President Trump expressed his desire for Elon Musk to stay on his team for as long as possible during a conversation with reporters on Air Force One. This came after reports surfaced claiming Musk may be leaving his role as a special government employee soon due to internal frustrations with his unpredictability and potential political liabilities. Despite these reports, Trump praised Musk as a patriot and a smart person, stating that he personally wants him to stay at the White House as long as possible. The Office of Government Ethics allows special government employees to work for the federal government for a maximum of 130 days in a 365-day period, with Musk’s timeframe set to expire on May 30.
When asked if he would consider appointing Musk to a different post to keep him around longer, Trump said that it could be a possibility. Trump mentioned that the secretaries within his cabinet will take over the work Musk has been doing with DOGE upon Musk’s exit from the role. While Musk’s work with DOGE has uncovered something both horrible and incredible, Trump did not provide further details to reporters. Musk officially began his work with DOGE after President Trump signed an executive order establishing the office on January 20.
The role of special government employee was created in 1962 to allow the executive or legislative branch to hire temporary employees for specific short-term initiatives. Despite not providing a specific date for Musk’s potential departure, Trump stated it could be as long as a few months. The president emphasized his willingness to keep Musk on his team for as long as possible, praising his talent and intelligence. Trump also expressed his vision of many employees working under Musk at DOGE eventually finding their way into full-time positions in various federal agencies.
Overall, Trump’s comments regarding Musk highlight the value he places on keeping talented individuals such as Musk within his team. Despite internal frustrations and potential political liabilities, Trump views Musk as an essential asset to his administration and seems determined to retain him for as long as possible. The potential departure of Musk from his role as a special government employee has sparked interest and speculation, with Trump hinting at the possibility of appointing him to a different post to extend his tenure. Trump’s praise of Musk’s work with DOGE and his desire to retain him within the administration reflect the president’s recognition of the importance of having skilled individuals contributing to his team.
