"Doge Elon Musk" refers primarily to two related things:
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — a cryptocurrency that started as a joke in 2013 featuring the Shiba Inu dog from the "Doge" meme. Elon Musk has been one of the biggest supporters and promoters of Dogecoin, often tweeting about it. His endorsements have significantly influenced Dogecoin's popularity and value. Dogecoin became a "meme coin" phenomenon especially around 2021, rising to a peak market value of $45 billion. Musk has changed social media logos to Doge and Tesla briefly accepted the coin for merchandise payments, showcasing his strong affinity for the coin.
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — an initiative created under former President Donald Trump's second administration, which Elon Musk co-leads. This department was established by an executive order on January 20, 2025, aiming to modernize government IT, cut federal spending, and boost efficiency. The name DOGE is a playful backronym referencing the Dogecoin meme that Musk supports. Elon Musk serves as an unpaid special government employee leading this task force that has sought to cut billions in federal spending, reduce inefficiencies, and oversee government tech modernization. The initiative has been controversial for its aggressive measures and lack of transparency but continues to play a role in government reform efforts.
In summary, "Doge Elon Musk" links Musk's high-profile promotion of the Dogecoin cryptocurrency and his leadership role in the government-efficiency project named DOGE, which draws inspiration from the meme and Musk's crypto advocacy. The term represents both a crypto meme culture influence and a governmental reform initiative associated with Elon Musk.
