Donald Trump's Chief of Staff has provided an explanation as to what Elon Musk actually does in the White House.
The billionaire SpaceX and Tesla boss was appointed earlier this year to head up the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative aimed at cutting costs, ending fraud, and modernizing federal tech.
Musk’s appointment sparked waves across both political and tech circles, not least because of his unorthodox presence in Washington.
During Trump’s early days back in office, Musk was a regular fixture in the Oval Office, even bringing along his son to hang out with the President during a press Q&A.
Trump later revealed to Fox News why he tapped the tech mogul for the job, saying he picked Musk as his right-hand man because he “couldn't find anyone smarter.”
But now, Musk has been noticeably absent from Trump’s side. During a recent Tesla earnings call, the tech billionaire confirmed that he’d be scaling back his government involvement starting in May.
Musk told investors he’d now be spending just a “day or two per week” on DOGE duties “for as long as the president would like [him] to do so.”
That shift sparked fresh questions about his ongoing role — and now, Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has provided some answers.
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In an interview with The New York Post, Wiles explained: “Instead of meeting with him in person, I’m talking to him on the phone, but it’s the same net effect.
“He’s not out of it altogether. He’s just not physically present as much as he was. He hasn’t been here physically, but it really doesn’t matter much.
“The people that are doing this work are here doing good things and paying attention to the details. He’ll be stepping back a little, but he’s certainly not abandoning it. And his people are definitely not.”
Despite Musk’s reduced presence, DOGE is still up and running. According to the administration, the initiative is already making waves in slashing wasteful spending and streamlining government operations.
Trump, in an interview marking his 100th day in office, even touted the department’s financial impact: “That’s a tremendous amount of money,” he said, noting DOGE had saved “$150 billion” and placed a lot of spending “under investigation”.
Whether Musk’s scaled-back role signals a long-term shift or a temporary recalibration remains to be seen. But if you were wondering if he’s ghosted the White House, it’s a “nope, not yet.”