President Donald Trump revealed that Elon Musk led DOGE had discovered something “horrible” on Thursday.
During a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump reaffirmed his strong support for Musk, saying that he hopes the billionaire entrepreneur will remain in his current government role for as long as possible.
Trump’s remarks followed recent speculation regarding Musk’s future within the administration, particularly after a report from Politico suggested the Tesla and SpaceX CEO might soon be stepping down from his position as a “special government employee” due to internal concerns over his unpredictable nature and the potential political risks associated with his involvement.
“Elon is fantastic. He’s a patriot,” Trump declared to reporters. He made it clear that Musk was welcome to stay in his advisory role at the White House for as long as he wants to.
“I like smart people, and he’s a smart person. I also like him, personally,” the president continued, while acknowledging that at some point, Musk would inevitably have to depart.
Under federal regulations, “special government employees” are only permitted to serve in an official capacity for a maximum of 130 days within a 365-day period.
Given that Musk’s tenure began on Inauguration Day, that time limit is set to expire on May 30.
When pressed on whether he would consider appointing Musk to a different government position to extend his service, Trump indicated that the option was on the table.
“I would. I think Elon’s great,” he responded, though he also acknowledged Musk’s existing obligations, saying, “But he also has a company to run, or a number of companies to run.”
Trump also indicated that once Musk does eventually step away from his role, responsibilities within DOGE would be assumed by cabinet secretaries.
He cryptically noted that DOGE had uncovered something “horrible” and “incredible” earlier that day but declined to offer any further specifics.
When asked for a definitive timeline on Musk’s departure, Trump suggested it could still be a few months away.
“I’d keep him as long as I can keep him,” he reiterated, highlighting Musk’s intelligence and the contributions he has made.
The president also projected that many of those working under Musk at DOGE would likely transition into full-time roles in other government agencies.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Trump administration reportedly took significant action within the National Security Agency (NSA), dismissing its director, Gen. Timothy Haugh.
According to the Washington Post, Haugh’s civilian deputy, Wendy Noble, was also removed from her position and reassigned to the Department of Defense’s Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.
Additionally, at least five National Security Council (NSC) officials were reportedly terminated.
Although the White House has not officially confirmed these reports, Trump did acknowledge that changes were being made within the NSC.
According to the Associated Press, the president admitted to removing “some” staffers from the department.
“Always we’re letting go of people,” Trump said on Thursday. “People that we don’t like or people that we don’t think can do the job or people that may have loyalties to somebody else.”
Sources cited by the AP claim that at least three of those dismissed were senior NSC officials, with the other people fired described as lower-ranking aides.
In other executive actions, Trump on Friday signed an order extending the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations.
The decision marked the second extension on the app’s impending sale, with the president explaining that additional time was needed to finalize necessary approvals.
“We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark.’ We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Had Trump declined to extend the deadline, ByteDance would have been legally required to complete a “qualified divestiture” of its U.S. assets under legislation signed by former President Joe Biden in April 2024.
Musk will cease to be a “special government employee” after 130 days, because the law authorizing such status places a 130 day limit. That won’t impact if he remains a Presidential advisor, with all the access he currently has.