Trump calls for famed Alcatraz prison to be reopened, expanded

"You have been treated unfairly but the vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you, and this whole room can say that very strongly. You've really been a tremendous help. You opened up a lot of eyes as to what could be done," President Trump told Elon Musk at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

"And we just want to thank you very much," Trump continued. "And, you know, you're invited to stay as long as you want. At some point, I guess, he wants to get back home to his cars."

The room then offered Musk a round of applause.

"It's also an honor to work with your incredible Cabinet. I'd just like to say thank you everyone for, you know, it's great to work with you," Musk said.

Unlike previous Cabinet meetings, Musk did not talk at length about the work of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Elon Musk, seated at the table at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, began speaking with two Trump hats on his head: a red "Gulf of America" hat on top of his back "Make America Great Again" hat.

"They say I wear a lot of hats. It's true. Even my hat has a hat," Musk joked.

Musk took the baseball caps off as he began speaking.

"You know, the American people voted for secure borders, safe cities and sensible spending," Musk said. "And that's what they've gotten. A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days."

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, at Trump's Cabinet meeting, said they have "dozens of written offers" from countries on trade after the implementation of tariffs but that deals are "some weeks out."

Greer held up spreadsheets he said show "which countries have come in, when we started negotiations, who gave us an offer, are we in technical talks, and when we expect to have deals done. Those are some weeks out, but we're working very quickly on this."

President Donald Trump first called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to speak at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

"I could start with Pete on the left because he's my least controversial person," Trump said, prompting laughter from those seated around the table, including Hegseth.

Slapping Hegseth on the back, Trump added, "No, they don't know how good he is."

"Well, Mr. President, I think controversial because we're over the target," Hegseth said. The defense secretary went on to tout recruitment numbers and asserted an effort to build a "Golden Dome" defense system over the U.S. is "underway."