President Donald Trump had a short answer for reporters who asked about Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Time Magazine cover which depicts the billionaire siting behind the Resolute Desk.
During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Oval Office Friday, a reporter asked Trump if he had a reaction to the Time magazine cover.
“No … is Time magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that.” Trump said in response.
Watch the video below:
REPORTER: "Mr. President, do you have a reaction to the new Time Magazine cover that has Elon Musk sitting behind your resolute desk?"
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 7, 2025
TRUMP: "No…Is Time magazine still in business? I didn't even know that."pic.twitter.com/lJdd77XvXS
The cover picturing Musk sitting behind the president’s resolute desk, came with the headline: Inside Elon Musk’s war on Washington. This is the first time the Tesla CEO has graced the cover.
The reaction from social media users on X, however, was mostly positive and in support of the SpaceX founder.
“You worried he’s gonna find out that TIME has been funded by USAID and cut that money off next??” one X user wrote.
“We love Elon and DOGE! Keep looking at the books. Keep finding the fraud and corruption wasting our hard-earned tax dollars!” another wrote.
Other users accused Time of sowing division.
“You guys are REALLY trying your hardest to sow division between Trump & Elon, aren’t you? Lol.”
Time was further called out over Trump’s comments asking if Time was even in business anymore.
“The President of the United States of America doesn’t even recognize that you’re in business anymore. Maybe you should stop publishing retarded covers.”
Musk has recently received criticism over his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with some saying Musk is really the person in charge.
However, Trump was open about Musk working with the federal government to cut costs before he was elected.
“We’re gonna get Elon, and he’s great at this, he’s gonna be our cost cutter,” Trump said. “I think he can save trillions … he wants to do it so badly. I don’t think I can get him full-time because he’s a little bit busy sending rockets up and all the things he does, but he’s so much into that. He said the waste in this country crazy and we’re going to get Elon Musk to be our cost cutter.”
