US President Donald Trump on Thursday lauded billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and announced that the two will appear together at a press conference in the Oval Office on Friday at 1:30 pm EST (1730 GMT).
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way,” Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Elon is terrific!”
“I am having a Press Conference tomorrow at 1:30 P.M. EST, with Elon Musk, at the Oval Office,” he added.
This development comes as Musk on Wednesday disclosed that he would step down from his White House advisory role.
“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,” Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns.
“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he added.
The Tesla CEO, who served as a special government employee, had been leading cost-cutting efforts within the Trump administration through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
His departure follows sharp criticism of Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which Musk described as a “massive spending bill” that will undo all his efforts under DOGE role.
Also read: What did Elon Musk say about Donald Trump’s bill before quitting DOGE?
Musk also stated that he plans to reduce his involvement in politics, “I think I’ve done enough,” he said.
The White House on Thursday expressed appreciation for Elon Musk, “We thank him for his service. We thank him for getting DOGE off of the ground, and the efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse will continue,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a briefing with reporters.
The precise reason for Elon Musk’s exit from the US government remains elusive, but mounting pressure from multiple fronts appeared to play a role. SpaceX experienced a series of failed launches, while Tesla shareholders urged Musk to dedicate more time to the company.
