Trump Bids Farewell to Elon Musk in Oval Office Appearance
On Friday, President Trump held a send-off ceremony for Elon Musk in the Oval Office, marking the billionaire’s return to focusing on his business ventures. Musk, dressed in black and sporting a visible black eye, stood beside the former president during a joint news conference that underscored Trump’s continued support for him.
During the event, Trump presented Musk with a symbolic golden key and praised him for enduring harsh public criticism. “He’s taken the slings and arrows, and that’s unfortunate,” Trump said, signaling solidarity with Musk amid recent challenges.
Tesla has recently faced mounting issues — from public protests and vandalism to a significant drop in stock value. Much of the turmoil followed Musk’s deeper involvement in DOGE and aggressive cost-cutting strategies.
The public show of support also highlighted Musk’s role in aiding Trump’s political resurgence. Although their relationship started off rocky — with Musk once suggesting Trump shouldn’t run and Trump responding harshly online — the two eventually reconciled. Musk later contributed financially to Trump’s campaign and gained considerable influence within federal circles.
In February, Musk made waves at the Conservative Political Action Conference by appearing with a chainsaw, claiming it was easy to save “billions in an hour.” Despite the dramatic flair, real fiscal results were limited, with Musk later admitting that reducing federal spending was a far more complex challenge than expected.
Standing next to Trump, Musk acknowledged the slow progress, calling the process “incredibly detailed and difficult.” He noted that although he’s stepping back from a formal role in DOGE, the initiative is far from over. Trump echoed that sentiment, stating Musk had brought in highly capable minds to continue the work. “He’s not really leaving — it’s his baby,” Trump remarked.
