Elon Musk turns up to farewell press conference with black eye revealing how he got it

Elon Musk has explained why he turned up to his farewell press conference at the White House with a black eye.

He officially quit the Trump administration this week after being part of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which was tasked with slashing US government spending.

What it did do during the months its been operating was get sued several times, fire a bunch of people only to be told they had to be rehired and led Musk to claim there was a 'conspiracy' against him after his deep association with Donald Trump led people who really don't like the US president to extend that dislike to the Tesla boss.

Musk didn't start his time in politics in the most dignified manner as he was accused of twice giving a 'Nazi-style' salute on stage during Trump's inauguration back in January, and claimed that criticism of him was part of a 'dirty tricks campaign'.

Last month Trump said he wanted to keep Musk around beyond the time he was supposed to be in the White House, claiming DOGE had found 'something horrible'.

Musk is leaving the White House, though Trump suggested he was 'really not leaving' (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

However, on Tuesday (27 May) the Tesla boss said he was 'disappointed' with Trump's budget bill which contained an increase in defence spending along with major tax breaks.

Musk later confirmed on social media that he would not be staying in Trump's White House longer than expected, writing: "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.

"The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."

He showed up to a farewell press conference today decked out in black with a t-shirt that said 'The Dogefather', but he could also be seen sporting a bit of a bruise over one of his eyes.

Musk said he got his black eye from 'horsing around' with his young son, saying: "I said go ahead and punch me in the face and he did, X could do it."

Musk said he got the bruise on his eye from 'horsing around' with his son and challenging the child to punch him in the face (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump remarked that he hadn't actually noticed.

Musk joked he 'wasn't anywhere near France', a dig at French president Emmanuel Macron after footage emerged earlier this week of his wife appearing to push him in the face.

During his time in the White House, Musk had initially claimed he could cut a trillion dollars worth of government spending but revised this down to around $150 billion.

Trump said that Musk had got the ball rolling on the 'most sweeping and consequential government reform effort in generations' and hinted that this may not be the last time the Tesla boss was part of the White House furniture.

Suggesting that Musk was 'really not leaving', Trump said Musk was 'going to be back and forth' to keep an eye on what was happening in his government.

Musk's position was only supposed to be temporary and as a special government employee he could only work for the White House up to 130 days in a calendar year, which does just take him to the end of May.

Writing on social media yesterday (29 May), Trump said: "This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific!"