Kathrine Frich
Insiders now say he left chaos, broken friendships, and scorched earth policies in his wake.
Insiders now say he left chaos, broken friendships, and scorched earth policies in his wake.
White House Staff Speak Out in Bombshell Report
A scathing exposé from The Atlantic has pulled back the curtain on what Trump’s top staff really think of Elon Musk, and it’s not pretty.
Musk, dubbed Trump’s “First Buddy,” was brought in to lead the aggressively named Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Cybertrucks, Chainsaws and ‘Efficiency’ Gone Mad
Since joining DOGE, Musk parked Cybertrucks on the White House lawn and once wielded a chainsaw to symbolize his budget-slashing mission.
Staffers say the theatrics weren’t just for show, thousands of jobs were cut, offices closed, and federal departments gutted under Musk’s high-speed, Silicon Valley-inspired approach.
Musk’s Explosive Clash with Trump’s Treasury Chief
In one now-infamous moment, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly screamed “F*** you!” at Musk after the billionaire made a major IRS appointment behind his back.
The confrontation, allegedly in earshot of Trump himself, was just one of many furious blow-ups with other high-level officials.
The Cuts That Cost Everything, and Saved Little
Musk claimed he saved $170 billion by slashing government programs, but sources say that number has since shrunk due to legal challenges and reinstatements.
His original promise to cut $2 trillion now looks laughable, even by his own standard, he later admitted $1 trillion was proving “really, really difficult” to find.
Musk Burned Bridges Everywhere
DOGE’s brutal cuts affected everything from air traffic control to veterans’ services and global humanitarian aid.
Even Secretary of State Marco Rubio and VA Secretary Doug Collins turned on Musk. At one point,
Trump himself reportedly told furious officials to “have at it” during a tense White House ambush meeting.
Silicon Valley Tactics Don’t Fly in Washington
Critics inside the administration say Musk’s tech-bro ethos, “move fast and break things”, simply doesn’t work in government.
“He just deleted stuff,” said one ex-official. “They haven’t added any value.”
His heavy-handed approach reportedly left surviving employees traumatized and federal systems in disarray.
Is Musk Done with DOGE? “I Think I’ve Done Enough”
With Musk’s 130-day stint as a “special government employee” coming to an end, it seems the White House might be breathing easier.
He’s scaled back his involvement and even told reporters, “I think I’ve done enough.” If The Atlantic report is to be believed, much of Trump’s team agrees, and they’re not sad to see him go.