3 hours ago
Last Updated:May 01, 2025, 22:39 IST
Elon Musk has described his stint as DOGE head "very tense" and detailed how he spent his 100 days in the newly-formed department in the Trump administration.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk opens up about his role as DOGE head (Reuters Image)
As Elon Musk’s limited term as a special government employee comes to an end in May, he has reflected upon his tenure as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Donald Trump administration.
He compared the department to a start-up and said that things have been very tense.
Musk will minimise his contribution in the administration, however, he expressed his willingness to play some part in the government “one to two days a week" as long as President Trump wants him to.
“Obviously, if the president or the Cabinet has an emergency that they want me to respond to, then I’ll do that," Musk said in a candid conversation.
As Elon Musk shifts attention back to his businesses—Tesla, X, and Starlink—speculation has grown about who might succeed him. Reports recently claimed Tesla’s board had approached executive search firms to explore leadership transition options. Musk quickly dismissed the report, calling it “deliberately false" and a “breach of ethics."
Although Musk has taken a step back from DOGE, he said he is deeply supportive, calling it “a way of life… like Buddhism." He claimed DOGE has saved an estimated $160 billion so far, with a long-term goal of hitting $1 trillion.
Detailing his relationship with Trump, Musk said that the duo are “good friends".
Trump even offered Musk a stay in the Lincoln Bedroom, along with a personal tour of its history. The two have also shared lighthearted moments, including late-night ice cream chats. “He’ll actually call, like, late at night and say, ‘Oh, by the way, make sure you get some ice cream from the kitchen,’" Musk said.
He said that he once gained three pounds in one night. “It was epic. I mean, don’t tell RFK (Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr).
Musk also talked about playing video games such as Pathfinder on a large computer monitor in his West Wing office.
However, he also detailed the hardships at DOGE, stating, “It’s like 60 percent fun, 70 percent fun. Depends on the week," he said. “Being attacked relentlessly is not super fun. Seeing cars burning is not fun".
Expressing optimising about DOGE’s future, Musk said that it can thrive even without his direct involvement.
With about 100 employees currently working on the project, he’s confident DOGE will keep advancing—potentially throughout a second Trump term.
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Late Night Ice Cream With Trump, Video Games And Tense Work: Elon Musk Describes His DOGE Stint
