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Elon Musk is said to have fallen out with President Donald Trump over his management of the federal government and his participation in a meeting concerning the U.S.’s relationship with China.
Reports of the Tesla billionaire’s expected exit from his position in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) emerged after several weeks of mounting tensions between him and other senior members of Trump’s White House team.
During a recent cabinet meeting, Musk allegedly revealed his plans to eliminate hundreds of thousands of government jobs and slash federal spending by an enormous $2 trillion. However, his aggressive stance on reducing the federal workforce and his frequent outbursts on X sparked significant opposition from several members of Trump’s cabinet, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The president reportedly expressed anger over Musk being cleared for a Pentagon briefing on China, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to the tech mogul’s business ties with the country.
Sources suggest that Musk’s unpredictable behavior and lack of coordination within the White House have led to tensions with Trump, paving the way for his likely exit from his government position.
In February, Musk made a dramatic entrance at a major conservative event, walking on stage wearing a dark MAGA hat and holding a chainsaw as a symbol of his commitment to cutting government waste. While the owner of X felt confident in his bold move, many of Trump’s closest allies viewed the stunt as “too extreme.”
GOP Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) cautioned that Musk’s actions could be used against other Republicans in the upcoming mid-term elections, warning that it might backfire politically.
The recent $20 million investment in a failed Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign, coupled with a significant drop in Tesla’s stock value and declining sales, has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding Musk’s actions.
According to insiders, the billionaire began to be viewed as a “political liability.”
Trump is reportedly telling members of his cabinet that Musk will be stepping down from his role “soon.” However, a senior insider suggests that Musk will likely remain in a more informal advisory position.
This transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s time as a “special government employee,” a status that temporarily exempts him from some ethics and conflict-of-interest rules. These 130 days are anticipated to expire in late May or early June.
Publicly, Trump has expressed nothing but admiration for Musk, who spent millions helping to elect him. The president frequently praises the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), citing the waste, fraud, and abuse the agency claims to have identified, calling Musk’s efforts “revolutionary.”
A separate source told Politico that anyone thinking Musk will disappear entirely is “fooling themselves.”
