"…Musk is one of the most malignant people ever to hold a position of influence in American politics."

"…It’s worth noting that the White House hasn’t been fully transparent about Musk’s role at DOGE in the past — telling courts that he wasn’t really in charge, even as they told the public something else."

"…Musk's entire history shows that the man's word is worth less than nothing."

"…Musk is now much less of a political attention magnet."

"…Musk’s failure to follow through on his boasts, though, should not detract from a clear-eyed assessment of the extraordinary amount of damage he succeeded in wreaking."

"…At the same time, the effort is continuing: the fight is not over."

"…Kimmel celebrated a big announcement on Thursday evening: Elon Musk, Donald Trump’s head of the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge), posted on X that he would officially step down from his post and leave Washington DC."

"…Ironically, the thing that Musk has been most stunningly effective at slashing is his own reputation."

"…As Musk returns to Tesla and SpaceX, the agencies he laid waste to are left to pick up the pieces."

"…Since DOGE first began its work in Washington in late January, its representatives have been eager to cut what they see as superfluous spending in government."

"…Republicans also said there was a palpable sense of relief about the prospect of DOGE getting out of the headlines even before Musk and different members of his leadership team appeared to begin their departures."

"…Without Davis at the helm, Lavingia says, it’s unclear who will lead DOGE—and in what direction."

"…Their time in government has also seen a radical shrinking of the federal workforce, with tens of thousands of employees losing their jobs."

"…Donald Trump gave Elon Musk a golden key to the White House as he leaves his formal role with the Department of Government Efficiency."

"…Rather than set government straight, Elon Musk is leaving Washington with the federal budget all cattywampus."

"…His time at the White House left behind a trail of public and private conflicts with members of Trump’s Cabinet, along with four months of unforgettable images — unthinkable before his foray into politics — making his tenure one of the most extravagant in U.S. history."

"…Musk has argued that bureaucracy has throttled his efforts to reduce government spending."

"…Musk's departure from the federal government will likely do little to change DOGE's work carrying out Trump's vision of shrinking the federal bureaucracy and purging it of people and programs that the president disagrees with."

"…Musk's core goals about DOGE haven't really been met."

"…Musk leaves Washington D.C. a much more polarizing figure, the subject of intense criticism and protests that have dinged his business empire."

"…Musk had set a goal for DOGE to cut $1 trillion from the federal government by the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, to root out what he called 'waste, fraud and abuse.'"

"…Musk's association with right-wing politics damaged Tesla's brand and tanked sales."

"…Musk's time has been punctuated by a series of events that showcased his closeness with the president."

"…Musk, who served as an adviser to Trump and led the Department of Government Efficiency, announced he would leave his role the Trump administration to refocus on his businesses."

"…Musk’s satellite Internet business Starlink was touted by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as a potential beneficiary of a $42 billion rural broadband scheme."

"…Musk, whose last day spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency is Friday, slashed his goal for savings from $2 trillion to $1 trillion to finally only $150 billion."

"…Despite the upheaval, Musk also fell far short of his goals."

"…Profits plunged 71% at Tesla in the first three months of the year right after a Chinese competitor claimed the mantle as the world’s biggest electric car seller."

"…Musk's work with Doge, however, has come with considerable controversy, particularly after mass lay-offs across federal agencies and the elimination of most programmes run by USAID."

"…Moose wrote in his statement that, ahead of the judge’s ruling, the headquarters had been 'essentially abandoned for many weeks' before USIP regained control."

"…Musk planned to continue visiting the White House to serve as a friend and adviser to the president."

"…Musk's service to America has been without comparison in modern history."

"…Musk left a searing mark on the federal bureaucracy, including thousands of employees who were fired or pushed out."

"…Musk treated federal workers with contempt, claiming they were inefficient and offering them a 'fork in the road,' meaning they could get paid to quit."

"…From the start, DOGE was hit with not only a tsunami of negative press and outraged Democratic lawmakers, but also a series of lawsuits, which bogged it down in protracted legal battles as Musk struggled to reach his original estimates of $1-2 trillion in cuts."

"…However, if Trump finds a DOGE successor necessary and decides to shift gears, who could fill Musk’s shoes?"

"…The whole exchange, captured during Musk’s Oval Office farewell event, quickly became the moment of the day, a lighthearted pause in a sendoff marking the end of Musk’s 130-day stint as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)."

"…Despite Musk’s efforts, in many cases agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could only be shrunk and limited, while total elimination requires an act of Congress."

"…Musk is stepping back from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which President Donald Trump appointed the tech billionaire to run for the first 130 days of his new administration."

"…Musk's political impact on national politics and on next year's midterm elections - for better or for worse - is far from over and is likely to live on well past his official departure from the Trump administration."

"…According to a May 26 update on DOGE’s website, the initiative has saved $175 billion through asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud payment crackdowns and other spending cuts."

"…The indication that Musk's DOGE-related work at the State Department will continue was reinforced by a new reorganization effort at the Department of State announced by Secretary Marco Rubio on Thursday."

"…Nonetheless, most of the hourlong Oval Office sendoff centered on Trump, who did the bulk of the speaking and answered most of the press’s questions."

"…Yet don’t try to verify that number because you won’t get very far."

"…Musk and his associates have been taking hits from people with a longer reach than X."

"…Trump commended Musk's work at DOGE, saying he has "changed the mindset of a lot of people.""

"…Trump said of Musk: "He's done a fantastic job.""

"…Trump said of Musk: "He's done a fantastic job.""

"…Johnson has argued the economic growth that will be achieved from passing the bill will counteract any concerns about the rising deficit."

"…Johnson has argued the economic growth that will be achieved from passing the bill will counteract any concerns about the rising deficit."

"…Vance expressed optimism about Musk's ongoing influence and the continuation of efforts to improve government efficiency."

"…Trump lauded Musk for the work that DOGE has done in exposing waste, fraud, and abuse."

"…Musk announced Wednesday that he was stepping back from his White House role as an unpaid 'special government employee,' where he headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which President Donald Trump established in a Jan. 20 executive order."

"…Despite largely negative media coverage and mixed public opinion on both DOGE and Elon Musk, a recent Cato Institute survey found that Americans think the federal government wastes more money today than a decade prior and overwhelmingly believe there is considerable waste, fraud and abuse."

"…The departures leave the cost-cutting efforts to lower-profile officials in the federal government."

"…Trump thanked Musk, describing his work as 'the most sweeping and consequential government reform program' and said he 'has changed the mindset of a lot of people.'"

"…The U.S. government has made a significant policy change on Chinese nationals in the United States on visas, citing security issues."

"…Elon is terrific!"

"…Elon has worked tirelessly, helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations."

"…Musk said that he will continue to visit Trump and be an advisor to the DOGE team."

"…While DOGE has served as a useful function, and while Vought’s OMB can probably identify a good amount more in the way of 'woke and weaponized bureaucracy' cost-cutting measures, it is a matter of basic mathematics that something more will be needed to begin to rein in America’s soaring annual deficits and our shocking national debt."

"…It is increasingly clear that the postwar democracies of the West, flush with decades of prosperity, have fallen into a coma of complacency."

"…President Donald Trump hosts a press conference with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk in the Oval Office."