NATIONAL NEWS

AP PHOTOS: Elon Musk leaves the White House after a turbulent effort to slash the government

May 29, 2025, 3:24 PM | Updated: Jun 5, 2025, 2:38 pm

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the Whi...

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The nation’s capital had never seen anyone like Elon Musk, who announced this week that he’s stepping back from his role as Donald Trump’s most unorthodox adviser.

Musk, the world’s richest person in the world, had an outsized role leading the Department of Government Efficiency as it canceled contracts and slashed the federal workforce. Musk says he’s moving away from political activity to refocus on his businesses, such as electric automaker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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AP PHOTOS: Elon Musk leaves the White House after a turbulent effort to slash the government