Washington D.C. — In an unusual Oval Office appearance on Friday, billionaire tech magnate Elon Musk bid farewell to his official role in the Trump administration, turning heads with a visibly bruised right eye and his trademark offbeat humor. Musk, who had been serving as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said the black eye was the result of roughhousing with his 5-year-old son, X.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO explained the injury by recounting a playful moment at home. “I said, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face.’ And he did,” Musk told reporters with a smile. Former President Donald Trump, who hosted the farewell event, quickly chimed in, saying, “That was X that did that? …X could do it. If you knew X.”
The bruise had caught the attention of the press even before Musk addressed it. Initially brushing off concerns with a cryptic quip, Musk joked, “I wasn’t anywhere near France,” referencing a recent viral incident in which French First Lady Brigitte Macron reportedly shoved him during a diplomatic dispute—a story that has fueled online speculation.
Despite the comedic tone, the occasion marked the end of Musk’s controversial four-month stint leading a sweeping, cost-cutting agenda within the Trump administration. Appointed as Trump’s “cost-cutter-in-chief,” Musk spearheaded a massive reform program aimed at slashing federal expenses. Under his leadership, the DOGE reportedly cut tens of thousands of jobs, shut down several federal agencies, and significantly reduced foreign aid.
However, while the changes were dramatic, the trillion-dollar savings Musk had initially promised remain largely unrealized, with the billionaire acknowledging that many of the intended results will take time to materialize.
Still, the former president showered Musk with praise during the event, calling his tenure “the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations.” In a symbolic gesture, Trump presented Musk with a golden key to the White House and made it clear that the tech tycoon would continue to play an informal role. “He’s going to be back and forth,” Trump stated. “He’s really not leaving.”
Musk, who was dressed casually in a black T-shirt reading “Dogefather” and a matching DOGE baseball cap, appeared unfazed by the speculation and scrutiny surrounding him. He also dismissed recent online rumors accusing him of drug use, calling them “nonsense” without giving them much attention.
“I look forward to continuing to be a friend and advisor to the president,” Musk said during his closing remarks.
As Musk steps down from his formal position in the administration, questions remain about the long-term impact of his radical reforms. Yet one thing is certain: even in his exit, Musk knows how to make headlines.
Whether in a boardroom, rocket launch pad, or the Oval Office, Elon Musk continues to blur the lines between tech icon, political disruptor, and cultural spectacle.
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