Elon Musk Parts Ways with Trump Administration
Elon Musk, the billionaire recognized as the world's wealthiest individual, has declared his decision to depart from the administration led by Trump.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is departing from the Trump administration after spearheading an intense efficiency drive. During his tenure, Musk disrupted numerous federal agencies but was unable to achieve the substantial savings he had aimed for.
His “off-boarding will begin tonight,” a White House official confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday, marking Musk’s exit from his government role. Earlier the same day, Musk expressed gratitude to Trump on his social media platform X, as his tenure as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency concludes.
The departure was swift and without ceremony, lacking a formal discussion with Trump prior to the announcement of his exit. A source familiar with the situation stated that the decision was made “at a senior staff level.”
The specifics surrounding his departure remain uncertain, but it follows a day after he voiced criticism of Trump’s prominent tax legislation. He described the bill as excessively costly and suggested that it would jeopardize his efforts with the U.S. DOGE Service.
Certain senior figures within the White House, among them Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, reacted with notable displeasure to the remarks. Consequently, the administration was compelled to reach out to Republican senators to reaffirm Trump’s backing of the legislative package, according to an informed source.
Musk’s departure follows a gradual yet steady decline in his standing, despite maintaining a close relationship with Trump.
Following Trump’s inauguration, the billionaire swiftly became a prominent figure within Trump’s sphere of influence, characterized by his high visibility, unapologetic boldness, and disregard for conventional norms. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, he dramatically wielded a red metallic chainsaw, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
Trump described the measure as a “chainsaw for bureaucracy.”
During the election campaign, Musk claimed that DOGE would reduce federal spending by a minimum of $2 trillion. As of now, DOGE asserts it has managed to save $175 billion, although Reuters has not been able to independently confirm this figure.
Musk openly expressed his disdain for the federal workforce, forecasting that the end of remote work privileges, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, might lead to a surge of voluntary departures, which he noted would be welcomed.
