Donald Trump reportedly says Elon Musk will 'step down from his role' in US government 'soon'
Donald Trump has reportedly said that Elon Musk will be leaving the US government 'soon'.
President Trump is said to be 'pleased' with Musk's cost-cutting efforts, but he expects him to be 'stepping back in the coming weeks'.
Musk previously told Fox New's Brett Baier that he thought he could cut $1 trillion off the US government budget within 130 days, which would take him until around the end of May.
His role as a 'special government employee' means he can only work for the Federal government for 130 days in a year, so Musk's time in the White House was set to be temporary anyway.
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His Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is due to be wrapped up on 4 July, 2026 unless it's extended.
Politico reports that Trump has been speaking about seeing the back of Musk as well.
They've claimed the POTUS has told members of his cabinet that Musk will be stepping back from his role in the coming weeks to return to his businesses, as 'three Trump insiders' told them he may still have a supporting role but won't be a regular fixture in the future.
It doesn't sound like it's the complete end of Trump and Musk working together, though.
On Monday (31 March), Trump said 'at some point, Elon’s going to want to go back to his company', adding that if 'he wants to, I’d keep him as long as I could keep him'.
A White House spokesperson said yesterday (1 April): "As the President said, this White House would love to keep Elon around for as long as possible.
"Elon has been instrumental in executing the President’s agenda, and will continue this good work until the President says otherwise."
Elon Musk lent his support to a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election in which he backed the Republican candidate Brad Schimel.
The Tesla boss had lent money to the campaign and recently handed over cheques worth a million dollars to two voters as he stood on a stage wearing a hat that looked like a piece of cheese.
Musk said the vote was important for 'the future of civilization', but after it didn't go his way, he said he 'expected to lose' and claimed he was 'losing a piece for a positional gain'.
His association with the Trump administration has resulted in some people not wanting to do business with him.
There's been a decline in Tesla sales around the world, and Trump staged a bizarre demonstration on the White House lawn where he hit out at the 'radical left' and said he was buying a Tesla.
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, US News, Politics
Joe Harker