Elon Musk praised President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office on Wednesday, calling the administration’s early accomplishments “tremendous.” Musk made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. The tech mogul also announced he’ll soon reduce his role in the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
“The American people voted for secure borders, safe cities, and sensible spending, and that’s what they have gotten,” Musk said. “A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days.” He added, “This portends very well for what happens for the rest of the administration. I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country.”
Musk had helped Trump win reelection and later took the lead on DOGE, an initiative aimed at slashing $1 trillion in waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal budget. So far, the DOGE website claims $160 billion in “estimated savings” from cuts across federal agencies. But Musk's efforts haven’t been without backlash.
Protests have erupted at Tesla facilities across the globe, some turning violent. The FBI has investigated incidents involving arson, vandalism, and gunfire. Several individuals have been charged in connection with those attacks.
Trump defended Musk at the meeting. He said the Tesla CEO “sacrificed a lot” and has been “treated very unfairly.” Musk joked, “People burning my cars is not great.” Trump added, “The vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you,” though recent polls show public support for Musk has dropped.
On a Tesla earnings call, Musk said he plans to shift his focus back to the company in May. Tesla recently reported a 71% drop in net income in the first quarter compared to last year. “Starting probably in the next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly,” Musk said.
Trump acknowledged Musk’s plan to return to Tesla. “You’re invited to stay as long as you want,” Trump told him. He also claimed DOGE savings could “be doubled and even tripled” as more cuts are implemented. “A lot of things are being worked on that we don’t count because it’s not quite there,” Trump said.
The meeting also had a light moment. Trump noticed Musk wearing multiple hats stacked on his head. The top one read, “GULF OF AMERICA.” “Elon, I love the double hat, by the way,” Trump said, drawing laughter from the room.
Musk leaned into the joke. “Well, Mr. President, you know they say I wear a lot of hats. That’s true. Even my hat has a hat!” he said, cracking up the room again. It was a rare moment of levity in a serious conversation about government spending.
Despite stepping back, Musk’s DOGE initiative has already made waves in Washington. Whether the savings hit $160 billion or beyond, the White House says the effort is far from over. And Trump made it clear—Musk is welcome anytime.