Trump Honors Musk with Gold Key as DOGE Mission Ends, Sparks New Era of Government Reform

In a moment that captured both symbolism and substance, President Donald J. Trump presented Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with a rare gold key to the White House — a token of appreciation for Musk’s transformative work leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The president, known for rewarding results over rhetoric, praised Musk during a special ceremony in the Oval Office, where he highlighted the billionaire’s patriotism and commitment to cutting government waste.

“Nobody liked him and he had to go through the slings and the arrows, which is a shame because he’s an incredible patriot,” President Trump said. “The good news is that 90% of the country knows that and they appreciate it and they really appreciate what he did. And I gave him a little special something we have here. Thank you, Elon. Take care.”

Musk accepted the gift with humility, replying:

“This is amazing.”

Though Musk’s time as a special federal employee has formally ended, he made it clear that DOGE — which has already saved taxpayers over $160 billion — is only getting started.

“This is not the end of DOGE, but really the beginning,” Musk said, noting that his 134-day term is coming to a close. “The DOGE team will only grow stronger over time. The DOGE influence will only grow stronger.”

Comparing the mission to a philosophy rather than a temporary program, Musk said:

“I liken it to a sort of Buddhism. It’s like a way of life… we’ll see $1 trillion of savings and a reduction in $1 trillion of waste and fraud.”

His optimism didn’t stop there.

“The calculations of the DOGE team thus far, in terms of FY25 to FY26 delta, are over $160 billion, and that’s climbing. We expect that number will probably go over $200 billion soon.”

With President Trump’s leadership and Musk’s ongoing guidance, the vision is nothing short of historic: an $8 trillion reduction in waste that will directly benefit the American taxpayer.

Musk praised the newly renovated Oval Office and the president’s vision:

“By the way, isn’t this incredible? Like, this is incredible. I mean—it’s stunning... I love the gold on the ceiling. Yeah. It’s been—for a long time—that was plaster. Nobody ever really saw it. They didn’t know the eagle was up there.”

President Trump responded with pride:

“We highlighted it. It’s essentially a landmark—a great landmark—and that’s 24-karat gold, and everybody loved it. Now they all see it when they come in.”

Musk agreed:

“The Oval Office finally has the majesty that it deserves, thanks to the president.”

Despite stepping down from his formal role, Musk promised to remain close to the mission:

“I look forward to continuing to be a friend and adviser to the president, continuing to support the DOGE team, and we are relentlessly pursuing $8 trillion in waste and reductions, which will benefit the American taxpayer.”

During the press event, reporters noticed Musk sporting a black eye — which he explained with characteristic humor.

“No, I just was horsing around with little X,” Musk said, referencing his 5-year-old son, X Æ A-Xii. “And I said, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face.’ And he did. Turns out even a 5-year-old punching you in the face… actually does this.”

With Washington now energized by results-oriented leadership and tech-powered accountability, Musk’s role in the Trump administration may be formally ending — but the DOGE legacy, and its billions in savings, is just beginning.