US President Donald Trump told his "inner circle" that billionaire Elon Musk would soon play a reduced role in the US government, according to reports by magazine Politico and broadcaster ABC News on Wednesday.
Musk has been leading efforts cut US government spending and dismantle several federal agencies as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Still, reports say his approach has divided top Trump aides.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, called the Politico report "garbage".
"Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete", - she wrote on X.
Earlier this week, Trump told reporters Musk would "at some point" return to his companies: "I think he`s amazing, but I also think he`s got a big company to run. At some point, he`s going to be going back. He wants to".