In a recent interview on Fox News, Vice President JD Vance confidently stated that billionaire Elon Musk would continue to serve as a “friend and an adviser” to President Trump even after his formal departure from the government. According to Vance, Musk’s significant contributions to the administration and his ongoing advisory role would ensure his lasting influence on the Trump administration.
During a conversation with reporters on Air Force One, President Trump expressed his admiration for Musk and his work, stating that Musk could remain in his role “as long as he’d like.” When asked if he would consider appointing Musk to another position within his administration, the President responded affirmatively. However, he also acknowledged the numerous responsibilities that Musk already has in managing his various companies.
President Trump pointed out that there would inevitably come a time when Musk would have to step away from his government role, estimating that this would likely happen within the next few months. This statement reflects the President’s recognition of Musk’s extensive business commitments and the impossibility of him permanently balancing these with government work.
Despite the fact that Musk is not officially in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he has been heavily involved in its operations. Both President Trump and Vice President Vance often discuss Musk and DOGE simultaneously, indicating the billionaire’s significant influence within the department.
By law, Musk, being a special government employee, is only permitted to formally work for the government for a period of 130 days, or slightly over four months. Given this timeframe, Musk’s official tenure would end in late May or early June. According to Vance, the administration had initially sought Musk’s expertise to help streamline government operations and increase efficiency, a task they believed would take about six months.
In conversation with Fox News’ Lawrence Jones, Vance explained, “And that’s what Elon signed up for.” He went on to emphasize that Musk would continue to offer his advice and expertise even after his official departure. “But of course, he’s going to continue to be an adviser. And by the way, the work of DOGE is not even close to done. The work of Elon is not even close to done.”
Vance praised the work that both he and DOGE have accomplished thus far, including their efforts to identify and eliminate wasteful or fraudulent government grants. He stressed that these efforts would continue after Musk’s departure, and that Musk would remain a valued friend and adviser to both him and the President.
“People don’t realize how vast and uncontrolled the bureaucracy was. We’ve started to chip away at it, but there’s a lot of work to do. It’s not going to happen all in six months, it’s going to take a long and committed effort,” Vance said.
These comments from Vance follow a report from Politico that suggested President Trump had told his inner circle and members of his Cabinet that Musk would soon be stepping back from his current role. Both Vance and Musk dismissed this report as “fake news.”
As a special government employee, the details of Musk’s financial disclosure report are not publicly available, and he is exempt from some of the ethics and conflict-of-interest rules that apply to permanent government employees. At this time, it is unclear what course of action the White House would take if Musk, who is reportedly not receiving any compensation for his work, were to remain in his role for longer than the 130-day limit.
In summary, despite Musk’s impending official departure from the Trump administration, his influence and advisory role are set to continue. His efforts within DOGE have been highly praised, and his ongoing commitment to improving government efficiency is widely recognized and appreciated. Regardless of his formal position, Musk remains a valued asset to President Trump and his administration.
