Trump hails Musk: 'colossal change with him'. Nyt: 'Elon drugged in campaign'

Shortly afterwards, Musk confirmed: 'I will continue to come here and be a friend and advisor to the president.

As a token of gratitude, Trump hands Musk a large golden key enclosed in a wooden box, saying it is a gift reserved only for 'special people', as a thank you from the country. 'This is not the end of the Doge, but rather the beginning,' he declares.

While confirming the end of his formal tenure as a civil servant, the tycoon reiterates that the Doge will continue his activities and says he expects government savings of one trillion dollars in the coming years.

For his part, the businessman says he will continue to advise 'whenever the president wishes', emphasising that he is'serving the president'. 'I hope so,' Trump retorts.

When asked by a journalist what was the 'biggest obstacle' to achieving the cuts, the Tesla and SpaceX patron replied that it was mainly a lot of hard work, examining the federal government's 'huge expenditures' and asking what certain funds are used for and whether they are used appropriately.

"Many times we cannot find anyone to defend [certain expenses]," says Musk.

He then responded to a question from another journalist in the room about an article in the New York Times, according to which he had used drugs excessively during the election campaign.

The billionaire retorts by evoking a recent ruling against the New York Times for its coverage of 'Russiagate': 'ThatNew York Times? Let's move on."

Responding to further questions from the press, Musk claims that the president may decide to extend Doge's official expiration date, set for July next year.

He went on to say that the advisory committee has become a sort of 'bogeyman' for federal cuts. "If there were cuts anywhere, people would think they were made by Doge," he said.

After not even an hour, the press conference turns into a question-and-answer session with the president. Trump talks about the appellate court's ruling yesterday, 29 May, which will allow his tariff plan to go ahead for now while the matter is considered by the courts. He says the government must act quickly and agilely.

Potus is also asked why he thinks Musk and the work he has done have become so politicised.

But the president refers to Musk's earlier work in the private sector and speaks of the 'various companies' he founded.