ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, April 3 (Reuters) - President

Donald Trump gave billionaire adviser Elon Musk a fresh

endorsement on Thursday amid criticism of Musk's government

reduction project and said he can stay "as long as he likes" but

will eventually return to his businesses.

"Elon is fantastic," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force

One as he flew to Florida for a long weekend.

Musk, head of Tesla and SpaceX, has drawn fire for

overseeing a U.S. bureaucracy overhaul that has triggered the

firing of thousands of government employees.

Some recent news reports have suggested Musk could soon

leave Trump's side, although it was not clear if Musk would

leave before his 130-day mandate as a special government

employee expires around late May.

Trump said Musk can stay "as long as he likes."

"He's going to stay a certain period of time and then he's

going to get back to his businesses full time. But he's doing a

fantastic job," Trump said.

Asked how long he would be staying, Trump said "I would

think a few months."