Elon Musk’s 138-day experiment in Washington as a “special government employee” came to a rocky conclusion in the Oval Office, as his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) fell significantly short of its ambitious $2 trillion savings target. Despite a public send-off from President Trump, the departure was overshadowed by a sense of disillusionment and lingering scrutiny.
President Trump, breaking from traditional presidential briefings, explicitly made the event about Musk, lavishing him with praise for his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative contributions. However, this presidential endorsement felt incongruous with the reported decline in Musk’s public popularity and the adverse impact on Tesla’s stock, both attributed to his controversial and often confrontational role within the government.
The farewell was further complicated by prominent news reports detailing alleged drug use by Musk and his criticism of a new tax bill. While Trump predictably dismissed the news outlet as “fake news,” Musk’s notable silence on the substance of these allegations left them unaddressed, contributing to a persistent cloud of controversy around his exit.
A highly visible black eye on Musk’s face quickly became a topic of discussion. His explanation—a playful punch from his five-year-old son—while seemingly innocuous, served as a symbolic representation of the challenges and public backlash he had endured during his brief, impactful, yet ultimately unsuccessful foray into Washington. His final, broad critique of the left underscored his polarizing nature.