Donald Trump and Elon Musk held a final press conference in the Oval Office to mark the official end of Musk’s role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Despite Musk stepping down, DOGE — the cost-cutting initiative launched by Trump in 2024 and led by Musk — is set to officially end in July 2026, though both parties emphasized their partnership will continue.
“He’s not really leaving,” Trump said. “This was his baby.” Musk confirmed he will continue to advise the president informally.
Created by executive order, DOGE was tasked with identifying and reducing waste across the federal government. It claims to have saved $175 billion so far, with Musk citing a long-term target of $1 trillion. The initiative has faced criticism over transparency and the effect of cuts on public-sector employment and foreign aid.
Trump presented Musk with a gold key in a wooden case during the event and called him “the greatest businessman the world has ever produced.” Musk wore a DOGE-branded cap and a “Dogefather” T-shirt. He said the work had been “hard,” but meaningful, and added, “I’m still at the President’s service.”
Trump also took the opportunity to clarify that the decision to freeze federal funds for Harvard was made by the White House, not DOGE. The administration plans to redirect $5 billion from that freeze to expand vocational and trade schools.
Asked about tariff relief for Tesla, Trump said that would depend on how many vehicles the company manufactures in the U.S.
Musk, who had a visible black eye, said he got it while playing with his young son and declined to comment further on questions about drug use allegations.
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The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that without concrete concessions from Russia, such as limiting its military forces or curbing its defence budget, new conflicts could erupt elsewhere, even if Ukraine receives security guarantees.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman.
A United Airlines flight heading to Tokyo was forced to return to Washington Dulles International Airport shortly after takeoff on Saturday after an engine failure, prompting an investigation by U.S. aviation authorities.
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