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A high-ranking Trump administration official has termed Elon Musk as the most irritating person to deal with, while building the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
According to Rolling Stone, the official said:
“Talking to the guy is sometimes like listening to really rusty nails on a chalkboard." The official added: "He's just the most irritating person I've ever had to deal with, and that is saying.”
The official added that Musk is not much of a team player either, the publication reported, and the quote has garnered widespread media attention.
Frustrations within the administration, says report
Rolling Stone also reported that Musk's behavior with the staff resulted in walkouts from important White House meetings. According to a senior official:
“I have been in the same room with Elon, and he always tries to be funny. And he’s not funny. Like, at all.” The official added: “He makes these jokes and little asides and smiles and then looks almost hurt if you don’t lap up his humor. I keep using the word ‘annoying;’ a lot of people who have to deal with him do. But the word doesn’t do the situation justice. Elon just thinks he’s smarter than everyone else in the room and acts like it, even when it’s clear he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
The creation of DOGE: A government reform initiative
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, by executive order, according to doge.gov. Its purpose is to make government more efficient, cut regulatory red tape, and eliminate federal waste.
Elon Musk's Role in DOGE
Musk was named an outside adviser to DOGE, serving as co-chair of the advisory board with biotech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy. Although neither have a formal government role, they were charged with leading reforms from the outside. Musk had publicly laid out proposals to reduce federal expenditures by $2 trillion, according to a BBC report from November 2024.
Tesla and the China factor
As per Fox Business, Musk's far-reaching business relationships, especially with China, have led to concerns about security risks. Also, a Forbes report said that profits for Tesla — Musk's biggest his wealth source — were dependable on China.
These relationships have raised questions among lawmakers such as Senator Richard Blumenthal, who wrote to Tesla’s general counsel:
“Mr. Musk’s dual roles — running a for-profit corporation while serving in public office — not only creates glaring conflicts of interest that pose grave risks for America’s most sacred institutions, but may also violate federal law.”
President Trump has insisted that Musk does not have policymaking responsibilities and that the administration does not depend on his recommendations.
Elon Musk faces major financial setback amid Trump's new tariff policies
As reported by Forbes, in early February 2025, Elon Musk suffered a huge financial blow because of reactions in the market to President Donald Trump's just-imposed tariffs. Tesla shares fell by 5%, costing Musk's net worth $11.8 billion, the largest loss by any billionaire at the time.
Also read: Fact Check: Did Keanu Reeves and Elon Musk debate in viral video?
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