Musk Ends White House Role, Sparks Speculation \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Elon Musk appeared at the White House with a black eye, ending his 130-day role in the Trump administration. The tech mogul joked it came from playfully sparring with his son. Despite stepping down from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk promised the initiative would continue.
Quick Looks
- Elon Musk appeared at the White House with a visible black eye.
- He attributed it to a playful punch from his five-year-old son.
- Musk concluded his 130-day stint with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- DOGE claimed $175 billion in savings from federal spending cuts.
- Musk says colonizing Mars is harder than government reform.
- Trump awarded Musk a symbolic “key to the White House.”
- Speculation swirled online about the source of Musk’s injury.
- Musk promises DOGE will continue growing beyond his tenure.
Deep Look
Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk made headlines not just for ending his surprise tenure in the Trump administration, but for doing so with a visible black eye that triggered a wave of speculation and social media buzz. Musk, 53, attended an Oval Office ceremony on Friday commemorating his 130-day stint as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a satirical-sounding but real initiative created to identify and eliminate federal waste.
Wearing a black “Dogefather” T-shirt and a cap emblazoned with the acronym “DOGE,” Musk appeared subdued—an unusual contrast to his typically flamboyant persona. His appearance came as President Trump addressed a range of light and serious questions from reporters, including a humorous one from Fox News’s Peter Doocy about a rumored slap involving the French First Lady and President Emmanuel Macron.
When attention shifted to Musk’s own apparent injury, the billionaire offered an equally quirky explanation. “I’ve got a little shiner here,” he said, pointing to the bruise. “I wasn’t anywhere near France,” he continued. “I was just horsing around with Little X, and I said, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face,’ and he did.” Musk was referring to his son X Æ A-Xii, affectionately known as “Little X.” He joked that even a five-year-old’s punch can leave a mark, hinting at the spontaneity of the moment.
Photos from earlier in the week had already shown signs of the injury, particularly during a separate SpaceX event where Musk outlined plans to establish a human presence on Mars. At that event, Musk humorously compared the monumental challenge of colonizing the Red Planet with the seemingly impossible task of making the U.S. government more efficient. “It’s a tough call,” he said. “But I think colonizing Mars and making life multiplanetary is harder. We do expect to achieve, over time, the trillion-dollar savings.”
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, dubbed DOGE, was launched with great fanfare after Trump’s return to the presidency. Though initially brushed off as another of Musk’s internet memes-turned-projects (a nod to the Dogecoin cryptocurrency), DOGE took on an active role in cutting federal spending. Over four months, the team worked with various agencies to identify inefficiencies, eliminate wasteful programs, and cancel grants and contracts deemed unnecessary.
Despite Musk’s lofty projection of up to $2 trillion in federal spending cuts, the department had listed just $175 billion in projected savings by the time he stepped down on Wednesday. That equates to roughly $1,087 per U.S. taxpayer, according to DOGE’s own website.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confirmed that these savings will be reflected in upcoming congressional appropriations. He also touted an additional $1.5 trillion in proposed reductions included in what the Trump administration calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping legislative package aimed at reshaping government spending.
Still, critics have questioned both the scope and the transparency of the DOGE program. Some federal workers voiced concern about abrupt project cancellations, while watchdog groups have asked for more data on how savings were calculated. Musk, however, remained confident in the program’s mission and insisted the work would continue even after his departure.
“This is not the end of DOGE, only the beginning,” Musk declared at the White House event. “The DOGE team will only grow stronger over time. I’ll still be involved in my own way.”
In a ceremonial gesture, President Trump awarded Musk a symbolic “key to the White House,” similar to the one presented to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Trump’s first term. “He’s going to be back and forth,” Trump said. “I’ve got a feeling.”
Online, speculation about Musk’s injury dominated discussion. Users on X, the platform Musk owns, were quick to analyze the black eye. “What happened to Elon, appears he has a black eye on his right,” one commenter noted. Another wrote, “That’s a left hook black eye if I’ve ever seen one. Might explain his delayed talk?”
Beyond the meme fodder and online speculation, Musk’s brief but high-profile government stint highlighted the increasing overlap between Silicon Valley influence and federal policymaking. His dual role as CEO of multiple companies and a federal official raised questions about ethics, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest, especially as his private ventures like SpaceX continue to secure major government contracts.
Nevertheless, his DOGE program was emblematic of a Trump administration strategy that favors private sector-style disruption in federal operations. Whether the projected savings will materialize and how durable the program’s impact will be under future leadership remains to be seen.
As Musk departs the formal position, his legacy within the administration is likely to reflect both his bold ambitions and his controversial, unconventional style. One thing is certain: DOGE isn’t gone—and neither is Musk’s role in shaping future discussions around government reform and efficiency.
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