From Nazi salute to tariff dissent, Elon Musk's most memorable moments as Trump'
Elon Musk says he will step back from his controversial White House role as the unofficial head of the cost-cutting "Department of Government Efficiency" to focus more on his troubled Tesla car compan
Brings kid to workDressed down in MAGA hats and t-shirts, Musk became a near constant presence in the White House. For a while, so did his four-year-old son named X.During Musk"s first appearance before press since his arrival in Washington to run DOGE, the child was trotted out and Trump said, "This is X and he"s a great guy."The boy was filmed picking his nose while his father boasted a
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Brings chainsaw to budgetUnelected and unconfirmed by Senate, Musk has repeatedly bashed the "unelected, fourth unconstitutional branch of government, which is the bureaucracy" and immediately made brutal cuts to the federal workforce and budget.To illustrate his management style, Musk donned sunglasses and brandished a chainsaw on stage at a conservative get-together in Washington.It was
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Overshadowing Trump"s cabinetAt Trump"s first cabinet meeting on February 26, Musk had a starring role even though he is not part of the cabinet. He stood looming near a doorway, wearing a t-shirt with words "Tech Support" across the chest as the cabinet met.Even without a literal seat at the table, the country"s most powerful officials were overshadowed by Musk, who helped bankroll Trump
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Trump the Tesla salesmanWith Musk"s Tesla car company taking a battering on the stock market and sales dropping sharply, and with vandals targeting his brand, the White House hosted a highly publicized test drive to boost Tesla"s rep.With a Tesla Cybertruck and a Model S parked on the South Portico, Trump and Musk mounted a sale"s pitch.Trump even said he had purchased one.The stunt didn"
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Fails to sway court electionMoney can"t buy you everything, Musk discovered, after pouring $25 million into the most expensive court race in US history to try to get a pro-Trump Republican judge elected to Wisconsin"s Supreme Court.Musk paid voters $100 to sign a petition opposing "activist judges" and even handed out $1 million checks to voters, beseeching the public to select the conser
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Tariff dissenterAfter Trump announced his sweeping US tariffs, deeply affecting major trading partners China and the European Union, Musk made the case for a free-trade zone between the US and Europe.This clashes with Trump trade policy.Shortly after, he called Trump"s economic adviser Peter Navarro (above, left), a longtime advocate for trade barriers, "dumber than a sack of bricks."Nava
