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ELON MUSK SPORTED A BLACK EYE as President Trump bid him farewell Friday at an Oval Office press conference to celebrate the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to cut wasteful spending.

Musk is leaving the administration after completing a 130-day term as a special government employee. He had recently already begun to step back from government work to focus on his companies, which have suffered during his polarizing foray into politics.

“He’s one of the greatest innovators the world has ever produced,” Trump said Friday. “He stepped forward to put his talents in to the service of our nation and we appreciate it. He’s worked tirelessly to enact the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations.”

Musk, who wore a "DOGEFATHER" T-shirt, said the black eye was from “horsing around” with his 5-year-old son named X.

Trump gifted Musk a golden key in a wooden box, saying he “accepted the outrageous abuse, slander, lies and attacks because he loves our country.”

“He had to go through the slings and arrows, which is a shame, because he’s an incredible patriot,” Trump said.

The DOGE website claims to have saved taxpayers more than $150 billion in waste and fraud so far, short of Musk’s stated goal of $1 trillion.

However, most of the DOGE team will remain in place and Musk said he expects they’ll reach their goal in the months and years ahead.

Musk described government sprawl as “the banal evil of bureaucracy” and likened his efforts to cut waste to practicing Buddhism.

“It’s a way of life,” Musk said. “I’m confident over time we’ll see a trillion dollars of waste and fraud reduction.”

Trump said that so far “70,000 bureaucrats have voluntarily left their taxpayer-funded jobs” and that “countless wasteful and unnecessary contracts have been terminated.”

Musk said he’d continue to act as an outside adviser to Trump.

“If there’s anything the president wants me to do, I’m at the president’s service," he said.

Musk dodged a question about a New York Times report detailing his extensive recreational drug use, including large quantities of ketamine and psychedelic mushrooms, which reportedly alarmed those around him.

“The New York Times, is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on RussiaGate? I think it is... Let’s move on to the next question,” he said.

White House adviser Stephen Miller addressed the controversy earlier in the day.

“The drugs we’re concerned about are the drugs running across the southern border,” he said.

TRUMP HEADS TO PA

Trump is traveling to West Mifflin, Pa., this afternoon for a 5 p.m. rally to celebrate a deal with the Japanese firm Nippon Steel that guarantees U.S. Steel will remain American owned and operated.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) praised the deal, calling it a “BFD.”

Both Trump and former President Biden intervened at points to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon, which instead will become an investment partner.

This comes amid global chaos over Trump’s tariffs, which were blocked by two federal courts in recent days. One of those blocks was lifted after an appeal.

Trump is now doubling down in the trade war against China, accusing them of violating an agreement that led to reduced tariffs.

“So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” Trump posted on social media.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said trade talks with China are “a bit stalled.”

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on CNBC that China is “slow rolling” compliance with the deal.

“I’m sure I’ll speak to President........

© The Hill