Musk Vows to Stay Trump's 'Friend' in Bizarre Black-Eyed Farewell

Billionaire Elon Musk bade farewell to US President Donald Trump in an extraordinary Oval Office appearance on May 31, sporting a black eye and brushing aside drug abuse claims.

- 

WASHINGTON -

Mr. Musk, the world's richest person, also vowed to stay a "friend and adviser" as he bowed out of his role as Mr. Trump's cost-cutter-in-chief.

Mr. Trump, a Republican, hailed Mr. Musk's "incredible service" and handed him a golden key to the White House.

However, he insisted that Mr. Musk was "really not leaving" after a turbulent four months in which his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) cut tens of thousands of jobs, shuttered whole agencies and slashed foreign aid.

"He's going to be back and forth," said Mr. Trump, showering praise on the tech tycoon for what he called the "most sweeping and consequential government reform programme in generations."

South-African born Musk, wearing a black T-shirt with the word "Dogefather" in white lettering and a black Doge baseball cap, said many of the US$1 trillion (S$1.29 trillion) savings he promised would take time to bear fruit.

"I look forward to continuing to be a friend and adviser to the President," he said.

But many people were more interested in the livid black bruise around Mr. Musk's right eye.

Speculation about the cause was further fueled by accusations in