The press conference held in the Oval Office at the White House with President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, theoretically to announce the latter’s departure as the head of the much-vaunted Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), turned into a free-for-all.
Elon Musk looks down on a bust of former US president Abraham Lincoln in the Oval Office. (Photo: Nathan Howard/Reuters)
And then there was the general demeanor of both men, neither of whom are known for sticking to the rules.
Here are the main takeaways from the event.
Elon Musk is leaving as head of Doge (sort of)The whole idea of the press conference was to officially announce that Musk would be leaving his government position as Trump’s hand-picked person to head the newly created Doge, even though the news had been flagged earlier this week. But the president said at the press conference that Musk would not be totally out of Trump’s orbit. “Elon is really not leaving. He’s going to be back and forth. I think, I have a feeling…it’s his baby, and I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things,” Trump said.
Musk does not like The New York TimesElon Musk used the stage of the Oval Office to pour scorn on the New York Times following a report in the newspaper about his alleged drug use and another about exactly how successful Doge was. Musk did not take kindly to a question about these issues. “The New York Times? Is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on Russiagate?…They might have to give back their Pulitzer Prize. That New York Times? Let’s move on.”
Elon Musk holds a key gifted by US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Trump gave Musk a giant keyThe president said the key was a recognition of Musk’s service to the government. “Elon’s service to America has been without comparison in modern history,” Trump said. “As a presentation from our country. Thank you, Elon. Take care of yourself.”
What was with Musk’s black eye?Musk appeared at the press conference sporting a black eye, which he explained was the result of some rambunctious playing around with his five-year-old son, named Little X. “I was just horsing around with Little X, and I said, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face,’ and he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face … ” he began before failing to finish his sentence.
Trump’s marriage advice for the MacronsThe three-times married US president was asked about the now-infamous video of the incident between the first French couple, with President Emmanuel Macron appearing to be shoved in the face by his wife Brigette as they landed for a state visit in Vietnam. “Make sure the door remains closed,” he advised them. “I spoke to him. He’s fine. They’re fine. They’re two really good people. I know them very well. I don’t know what that was all about.”
Trump hasn’t thought about a pardon for DiddyTrump and the rap mogul go back a long way, from Trump’s days as the host of the US version of reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice. But these days, Diddy is on trial in New York on sex trafficking charges. Trump was asked if he could issue Diddy a presidential pardon, but was non-committal. “I haven’t seen him, I haven’t spoken to him in years. He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics, he sort of, that relationship busted up. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
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