Elon Musk, the high-profile entrepreneur and innovator, made a striking appearance with a visible black eye during a White House event marking the end of his 130-day tenure as a special government employee in the Trump administration. The event, which took place on May 30, 2025, caught the attention of both the press corps and online observers who were quick to inquire about the unexpected bruise.
Responding to a question from the press, Musk humorously explained that his injury was the result of his son, known as "Little X," punching him in the face during play. Musk's casual remark about the surprising strength of a five-year-old lightened the atmosphere of the Oval Office ceremony. Despite the incident, Musk's commitment to SpaceX's Mars colonization project was clear. During a presentation about the initiative, he compared the challenges of Mars colonization to making the federal government efficient, emphasizing the former as the greater task.
Musk's involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was marked by his advocacy for cutting federal spending. His tenure at DOGE saw efforts to terminate grants, cancel programs, and reduce expenditures, with the goal of achieving significant cost savings for the government. By the end of his term, the department reported $175 billion in cuts, which translates to roughly $1,087 in savings per taxpayer. This fell short of the ambitious $2 trillion savings goal Musk had previously projected.
House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged these savings, indicating they would be considered in future congressional appropriations. Additionally, Johnson referenced President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, which purportedly includes another $1.5 trillion in cuts.
Musk's farewell appearance was a departure from his usual energetic demeanor. Wearing a black "Dogefather" shirt and a matching "DOGE" hat, he maintained a subdued presence. Amidst the online speculation regarding the origin of his black eye, Musk continued to focus on his future plans, promising that DOGE's work was "only the beginning."
President Trump, expressing confidence in Musk's ongoing involvement with government efficiency efforts, awarded him a symbolic key to the White House, echoing a similar gesture made to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Trump's first term.
