End of the Musk era? Elon set to exit Trump’s government gig as Tesla sales nosedive and DOGE takes the heat
Elon Musk speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on February 20, 2025 in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Credit: Shutterstock, Andrew Harnik
Is Elon Musk too distracted to lead?
The billionaire brain behind Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), is set to bow out of his headline-grabbing role in Donald Trump’s administration as his government service nears its legal limit – and his reputation takes a battering on multiple fronts.
The world’s richest man, who bulldozed into US politics with his controversial “Department of Government Efficiency” – better known as DOGE – is expected to step down by late May, when his 130-day cap as a special government employee expires.
“He’s got a big company to run… at some point he’s going to be going back,” President Trump told reporters on Monday, March 31, adding, “I’d keep him as long as I could keep him.”
Despite White House insistence that Musk was “here to stay”, insiders told Politico that the billionaire’s days in public service are now numbered – though, predictably, Musk dismissed the reports as “fake news” and press secretary Karoline Leavitt branded the scoop “garbage”.
Still, behind the scenes, the Trump administration is quietly preparing for his exit.
DOGE’s dark side: blunders, backlash and a brush with Ebola
Musk’s critics say the drama doesn’t end with the mass redundancies under Doge. In a particularly jaw-dropping moment, he accidentally scrapped a government Ebola prevention programme, laughing it off in a Cabinet meeting as a “minor slip-up”. No one else was laughing.
Meanwhile, USAID – axed early in DOGE’s reign – was reportedly investigating Starlink, Musk’s satellite firm, for allegedly providing services in Russian-occupied Ukraine. After USAID was dismantled, that probe vanished into the ether.
Other agencies weren’t spared either. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau came under fire days after unveiling plans to regulate companies like X – which just so happens to be in talks with Visa.
It’s led many to question: is Musk’s presence a public service or a blatant conflict of interest?
Brand Musk in meltdown: Tesla sales skid and investors fume
While Musk’s political antics dominate headlines, back at Tesla, the numbers are falling off a cliff. Tesla sales dropped 13% in Q1, the company’s biggest drop ever, and its lowest delivery figures in three years, as reported by the BBC. Only 336,681 vehicles were delivered – a far cry from last year’s 386,810.
Early investors like Ross Gerber have made headlines for slamming Tesla’s performance recently. Gerber took to X to vent his frustrations: “The brand is broken and might be beyond repair.”
The backlash hasn’t stopped at the stock exchange. Protests and boycotts against Tesla have erupted across the US and Europe, with dealerships defaced and vehicles vandalised. In response, Musk labelled such acts “domestic terrorism”, and the FBI dedicated a task force to hunting down the vandals.
Tesla’s share price has lost more than a quarter of its value since January, with New York City’s comptroller Brad Lander blaming Musk’s political distractions for a $300 million loss in pension funds. “Elon Musk is so distracted that he’s driving Tesla off a financial cliff,” Lander warned.
Musk and the Wisconsin Supreme Court
To make matters worse, Musk sank millions into the Wisconsin Supreme Court race in support of conservative candidate Brad Schimel – who was soundly defeated, handing Musk another high-profile loss.
Even Musk’s allies are beginning to edge away. In a rare moment of reflection, the billionaire told Fox News recently, “Frankly, I can’t believe I’m even here doing this. It’s kind of bizarre.”
What’s next for the world’s richest man?
Officially, Musk’s last day in government could come as early as late May, based on his 130-day limit. But few believe this is the last we’ll see of him in politics.
His DOGE legacy, for better or worse, is locked in. Whether he returns to focus on Tesla, rockets or tweetstorms is anyone’s guess. When Elon Musk enters a room, the rules tend to go out the window.
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