Elon Musk Confirms Departure from Role in Trump Administration
TL/DR –
Elon Musk has confirmed he will leave his role as a Special Government Employee in the Trump administration, where he aimed to reduce wasteful spending. Musk’s 130-day tenure was set to end around 30 May, but his departure was agreed upon at a senior staff level with no formal conversation with President Trump. Musk’s future plans involve returning to his business ventures, and he has expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s spending plan and a decline in his political spending.
Elon Musk Steps Down from Trump Administration Role
Elon Musk has disclosed his exit from the Trump administration on social media. His decision to leave his position was confirmed by the White House on Wednesday.
The billionaire took to X, his social media platform, to express gratitude to President @realDonaldTrump for his stint as a Special Government Employee. He stressed that his “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” mission will continue to evolve.
Related: Musk is pivoting from DC and Doge’s failures – and wants investors to know
Musk’s resignation process was confirmed by a White House official to Reuters. Musk’s departure, who was previously seen as Trump’s “first buddy”, was unexpectedly rapid with no formal discussion with Trump, according to a knowledgeable source.
Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, as an unelected official, had the authority to reorganize parts of the US government. Despite his departure, he assures that the DOGE’s restructuring efforts of the federal government will persist.
Musk has hinted at his upcoming departure from Washington, while voicing criticism about Trump’s spending plan and the response to his ‘DOGE’ efforts.
The billionaire also expressed dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s response to Doge’s efforts, stating to the Washington Post, “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized.” He condemned the administration for turning Doge into a scapegoat.
According to the New York Times, Musk openly expressed his dissatisfaction over a deal between OpenAI and Abu Dhabi that did not involve his company. His recent political disenchantment was also influenced by the defeat of his judicial candidate in Wisconsin, despite a $25m campaign expenditure.
With DOGE, Musk managed to reduce the 2.3 million-strong federal civilian workforce by nearly 12%. His political endeavors have incited protests and requests from certain investors for him to focus more on managing Tesla. After spending almost $300m backing Republicans and Trump’s campaign, Musk announced his intent to cut political spending.
The New York Times reported that Musk promised to donate $100m for the 2026 midterms to Trump-controlled groups earlier this year, though the funds have not yet been received.
Reporting contributions by Reuters and Nick Robbins-Early.
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