Trump’s chief of staff

Elon Musk, once a regular presence in the Trump White House and head of the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is now stepping back from day-to-day involvement. Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, confirmed Musk is no longer working from the White House and is “not as present as he was,” though they still speak by phone. Musk remains engaged in his role as an unpaid special government employee, though by law he’s limited to 130 days of government work per year. Wiles emphasized that while Musk is less physically involved, his team continues to contribute actively.

Musk recently drew attention on social media after appearing at a cabinet meeting wearing two hats—one red and one black—with the top hat reading “the Gulf of America,” a nod to Trump’s push to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Trump complimented the look, saying Musk is the only one who could pull it off. Musk’s cheeky reply—“they say I wear a lot of hats and it’s true, even my hat has a hat”—was met with widespread cringing online. Despite his reduced presence, Musk remains a curious and controversial figure in the current administration.