In a remarkable symbolic gesture, U.S. President Donald Trump presented billionaire Elon Musk with a golden key to the White House, honoring his achievements during his tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a department Trump established to reduce wasteful federal spending.

During a joint appearance in the Oval Office, Trump praised Musk for bringing about a “radical transformation” in the way Washington operates, commending his professionalism and determination to confront what he described as “a culture of fraud.” Trump added, “We owe him a great deal of gratitude.”

The president noted that the mindset of top leadership across federal agencies had “completely changed” under Musk’s direction. He pointed out that America had been spending billions of dollars on ineffective international programs, whereas Musk succeeded in curbing waste and saving more than $160 billion.

“He did a tremendous job,” Trump said, addressing Musk directly. He stressed that Musk had “not permanently left the administration” and would continue to serve as a “senior advisor to the president” after stepping down from DOGE leadership following a four-month term.

For his part, Elon Musk affirmed that his departure did not mark the end of the department’s mission. “The work of the Department of Government Efficiency continues, and the team will grow,” he stated, adding that the department aims to eventually save up to one trillion dollars in federal expenditures.

“I will continue to support the department and fight waste. I’ll remain an advisor to President Trump,” Musk added.

During the ceremony, Trump handed Musk the symbolic White House key, saying, “Elon had to endure a lot. That’s unfortunate. He’s an unbelievable patriot. The good news is that 90% of Americans know that.” He continued, “I’ve only given this key to a few exceptional people. I thought of giving it to Elon as a gift from our country. Thank you.”

It’s worth noting that the Department of Government Efficiency had previously uncovered a “shocking agreement” not disclosed to Congress, according to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, highlighting the department’s role in promoting transparency and fiscal responsibility within the federal government.