U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has denied recent claims that Elon Musk is stepping down from his role as a top advisor in the Trump administration. In a statement to reporters on Friday, Vance said Musk is still very much involved and will remain a key voice in the White House, even if his role changes over time.
“Elon is—and will continue to be—a trusted friend and advisor,” Vance said. “His voice will still be heard, whether he’s in the building every day or not.”
Vance made it clear that rumors about Musk leaving were “greatly overstated.” He said Musk continues to help both him and President Trump with ideas for making the government run better and faster. The White House also released a short statement echoing Vance’s message, calling Musk “an important part of the administration’s future.”
Musk Leads Push to Cut Red Tape
At the heart of Musk’s role is his leadership in the “Department of Government Efficiency,” also known as DOGE. This special group was formed to look at how federal agencies could do more with less. The goal is to make government offices work faster and waste less money.
Musk has been a driving force behind many of DOGE’s biggest changes. Over the past six months, the unit has pushed several reforms, including staff cuts at some federal departments. These moves have been praised by Trump supporters as bold steps toward a leaner government. But they have also sparked protests from unions and workers who say the cuts are too extreme.
In one case, the Department of Education saw a 12% staff reduction. Critics say the cuts have caused delays in student loan services and other vital areas. Musk, however, has defended the moves, saying they are needed to bring long-term results.
“We need to make the government work like a great company,” Musk said during a town hall in January. “That means making tough choices.”
Rumors Spark Talk of Exit
This week, media reports from Politico and ABC News suggested that Musk may be preparing to scale back his White House duties. The articles quoted unnamed officials saying that Trump and Musk have talked about Musk stepping away to focus more on his companies, like Tesla and SpaceX.
President Trump seemed to confirm those talks in a brief comment to reporters. “He wants to return to his companies eventually,” Trump said. “And I’ll keep him here for as long as I can.”
Musk has not directly responded to the news reports, but his team said on Thursday that there are “no immediate changes planned.” His office also confirmed he would attend next week’s White House strategy session on technology and innovation.
Role May Change, But Influence Will Stay
According to Vice President Vance, Musk’s role may evolve in the coming months, but his ideas and input will still be welcome. He compared Musk’s involvement to that of “a valued board member” who may not be present every day but still plays a major part in long-term planning.
“Elon thinks ahead. He’s always looking for ways to help,” Vance said. “Even if he’s not here every morning, his vision will guide our decisions.”
White House aides said Musk’s future tasks may focus more on high-level strategy than day-to-day oversight. This would allow him to manage his growing list of tech projects, including work on AI safety and his new startup focused on brain-computer interfaces.
Public Reactions Are Mixed
The news has stirred mixed reactions online and in Washington. Some supporters say Musk is doing exactly what the government needs—shaking things up and asking hard questions. Others argue that his reforms go too far, too fast.
A former official at the Office of Personnel Management said Musk’s approach lacks compassion. “You can’t run the government like a business,” she said. “People depend on these services.”
But many in the Trump camp disagree. They believe Musk’s bold methods are what the country needs to fix broken systems. Some even say Musk could one day run for office himself, though he has ruled that out several times.
For now, it looks like Musk is staying put. Even as he balances his tech empire with public service, the White House insists he will remain a central voice.
“Elon still believes in the mission,” Vance said. “He’s here to help make things better.”