Donald Trump has spoken out after Elon Musk publicly announced his intention to quit DOGE.
The billionaire tech mogul’s 130-day stint as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump has come to an end.
Just days before announcing his resignation, Musk took aim at Trump’s latest legislation — the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” — a sweeping package that includes $5 trillion in tax cuts, stricter Medicaid rules, and an eye-watering $3.8 trillion projected deficit increase, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly,” Musk told CBS. “It increases the budget deficit and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing. I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both.”
Despite previously branding rumors of a political “step-back” as “fake news,” Musk announced his departure just days later on May 28.
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In an unusually warm response, Trump finally acknowledged Musk’s exit on his social platform, Truth Social.
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way,” the president wrote. “Elon is terrific!”
Trump even promised to hold a press conference with Musk at the White House on May 30.
The tone surprised many, especially given their recent tensions and Musk’s decision to publicly criticize Trump’s bill just days earlier.
Musk, who had been a key figure in Trump’s government since the January inauguration, revealed that the strain of the political spotlight had taken its toll — financially and personally.
Tesla’s stock slipped, lawsuits piled up, protests erupted, and even a judicial candidate he had backed lost, despite a $25 million cash injection from Musk’s PAC.
“I think, in terms of political spending, I’m going to do a lot less in the future. I think I've done enough,” Musk told Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain.
He echoed the sentiment at a forum in Qatar, saying he plans to step back from politics: “I think I’ve done enough.”
Musk’s only formal farewell came in the form of a brief tweet, posted to X, the platform he owns.
“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote.
“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
The White House confirmed the exit, with The Guardian reporting that the decision had been made “at a senior staff level.”
Musk’s tenure as “Trump’s first buddy” had included Tesla photo ops, trips on Air Force One, and even bringing his son to the Oval Office.
But in recent weeks, the relationship showed cracks — including Musk calling Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron” and expressing fury over a tech deal between Abu Dhabi and OpenAI that excluded his company.