President Donald Trump publicly praised tech entrepreneur Elon Musk during a White House event Wednesday, calling him a “patriot, a brilliant guy, and a friend of mine” amid reports that Musk is stepping back from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
As Fox News reported, the comments came during an Oval Office exchange while Trump was signing an executive order related to federal streamlining.
Musk, who has played an informal advisory role since DOGE’s launch in 2025, was a key figure in Trump’s second-term agenda to overhaul federal bureaucracy and apply private-sector practices to government operations.
“He’s an incredible… brilliant guy,” Trump said. “He was a tremendous help both in the campaign, and in what he's done with DOGE.”
DOGE was created to reduce federal waste and improve efficiency across agencies, a cornerstone of Trump’s push to rein in government overreach.
Musk’s involvement, though unofficial, drew attention from both supporters and critics as he helped craft reform strategies and pushed for innovation within federal systems.
In response to a reporter’s question, Trump defended Musk and his companies, particularly Tesla, amid mounting political and activist pressure.
“They took it out on Tesla, and I just thought it was so unfair because he's trying to help the country. But he has helped the country… He didn't need to do this. He did it.”
The defense came as Musk and Tesla face growing scrutiny and threats. In Kansas City, a Tesla dealership was recently targeted in an arson attack that caused more than $200,000 in damage.
Meanwhile, in Europe, a top Tesla executive canceled a planned visit to Rome due to reported security concerns. Protests continue outside Tesla’s gigafactory in Berlin.
Trump also highlighted Musk’s achievements in aerospace and technology.
“When you see those rockets go up and come back and land in the same gantry, nobody else can do that but this man,” he said, referring to SpaceX’s reusable launch technology. “So he's just an incredible person, and he's a friend of mine… a very nice person.”
The president also praised Musk’s broader impact, mentioning Tesla vehicles, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite program, and Musk’s ongoing work in medical innovation.
“He’s a great patriot… he makes a great product… it’s a great car. It’s a great everything. Starlink is great. What he does is good. He’s doing medical things that are amazing.”
He was a tremendous help both in the campaign, and in what he's done with DOGE.
Trump: @elonmusk Saved America A Lot Of Money
"He was a tremendous help, both in the campaign and with what he's done with DOGE.... he has helped the country... He loves the country, he didn't need to do this." pic.twitter.com/0ULEwPGOC9 — Mr Producer (@RichSementa) April 23, 2025
As Musk shifts focus back to his businesses, Trump signaled he hopes the billionaire remains involved with his administration’s goals. “I told him… whenever you’re ready, I’d like to keep him for a long time,” Trump said.
A recent Fox News poll shows 49% of Americans believe DOGE will improve government efficiency, while 52% still question the administration’s overall effectiveness—figures that echo public sentiment dating back to Trump’s first term.
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