Trump ridicules TIME magazine's depiction of Musk as president
Donald Trump has ridiculed TIME's newest cover, which features Elon Musk seated at the presidential desk in the Oval Office. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The latest cover of TIME magazine features tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is depicted sitting at the Resolute desk in the Oval Office. This print edition, dated February 24, 2025, showcases Musk in the center of the desk, flanked by an American flag and a presidential flag. He is seen holding a coffee cup in his left hand, serving as the head of Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The magazine includes a feature titled "Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington," which highlights Musk's work to reform the federal government since President Trump's inauguration on January 20.
In a response to the cover, Trump expressed disbelief about the magazine's relevance, stating, "No… Is TIME Magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that," while addressing reporters on Friday.
This reaction follows the magazine naming Trump 'person of the year' just two months prior, a title he originally received after his election win in 2016.
Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and the owner of X, has been designated as a ‘special government employee’ to lead DOGE under the Trump administration. He currently serves as one of the president's key advisors.
In November, Musk co-authored an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, outlining significant plans for budget cuts. He noted that the new agency, despite its name, is not classified among the permanent federal executive departments, and aims to assist the president in "hiring a lean team of small-government crusaders" to achieve “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.”
DOGE has set an ambitious target to reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion by 2026. Recently, Musk’s department announced it had saved over $1 billion by eliminating contracts tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Following his inauguration, Trump signed several executive orders to reverse protections for transgender individuals and dismantle DEI initiatives implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Additionally, the agency reported that it reduced daily federal spending by about $1 billion as of January 29, achieved by halting "the hiring of people into unnecessary positions, the deletion of DEI, and stopping improper payments to foreign organizations."
Moreover, the Trump administration has taken steps against the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which serves as the primary means for funding political initiatives abroad. Plans are in place to place thousands of its employees on leave. Musk has criticized USAID, labeling it a “criminal organization” and alleging that it has financed bioweapons research.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
The magazine includes a feature titled "Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington," which highlights Musk's work to reform the federal government since President Trump's inauguration on January 20.
In a response to the cover, Trump expressed disbelief about the magazine's relevance, stating, "No… Is TIME Magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that," while addressing reporters on Friday.
This reaction follows the magazine naming Trump 'person of the year' just two months prior, a title he originally received after his election win in 2016.
Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and the owner of X, has been designated as a ‘special government employee’ to lead DOGE under the Trump administration. He currently serves as one of the president's key advisors.
In November, Musk co-authored an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, outlining significant plans for budget cuts. He noted that the new agency, despite its name, is not classified among the permanent federal executive departments, and aims to assist the president in "hiring a lean team of small-government crusaders" to achieve “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.”
DOGE has set an ambitious target to reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion by 2026. Recently, Musk’s department announced it had saved over $1 billion by eliminating contracts tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Following his inauguration, Trump signed several executive orders to reverse protections for transgender individuals and dismantle DEI initiatives implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Additionally, the agency reported that it reduced daily federal spending by about $1 billion as of January 29, achieved by halting "the hiring of people into unnecessary positions, the deletion of DEI, and stopping improper payments to foreign organizations."
Moreover, the Trump administration has taken steps against the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which serves as the primary means for funding political initiatives abroad. Plans are in place to place thousands of its employees on leave. Musk has criticized USAID, labeling it a “criminal organization” and alleging that it has financed bioweapons research.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
