Looks like Elon Musk might be done with politics sooner than we thought. Recent reports are saying he’s ready to leave the Trump administration, and the reason behind it is a bit of a shocker.
This speculation comes as his influence within the administration appears to wane.
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Elon Musk’s political power grew quickly
It’s no surprise Musk became a big name in politics, especially with his status as the ‘world’s richest guy’.
His decision to back Donald Trump really gave him a lot of power in the political game. That’s been pretty clear as Musk has used that influence to his advantage.
His role as head of DOGE took things further
Before Trump officially got back in office, Musk was already flexing his political muscle with important bills in Congress.
But things really took off when he got the role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). That’s where his influence grew even more.
Musk had major control over federal spending
In this new role, Musk basically had control over a massive chunk of the federal budget, with plans to save the country around $2 trillion. He used that power to go after government agencies. In some cases, he even got rid of a few by accident.
He’s stepping away because of regulations
President Trump made it clear that there are limits to Musk’s power as head of DOGE. On top of that, reports are saying Musk is planning to leave his role by the end of May because of some rules around his position.
Since he’s a “Special Government Employee,” there’s a limit to how long he can work in that role – only 130 days a year.
He’s tired of the attacks from the left
Trump confirmed this news, but it’s not exactly clear if Musk is completely done with his political work. According to a report by The Washington Post, Musk is pretty ready to call it quits. It’s not just about the 130-day rule. He’s “tired” of dealing with what he sees as nasty and unethical attacks from the left.
Attacks are coming from everywhere
Apparently, these attacks are coming from all over the place. Some are in politics, others in the form of protests. Musk’s been riled up by impressions of him on Saturday Night Live.
It’s pretty clear that he’s been taking a lot of heat, and it’s affecting him.
The backlash against Tesla isn’t helping
But it’s not just political attacks. Tesla’s been getting its fair share of backlash too. Dealerships have been targeted, cars have been vandalized, and Musk’s reputation hasn’t been helping.
Tesla’s stock is down, and it seems like the company’s been in a rough spot lately.
Tesla’s future might depend on Musk stepping back
Some analysts even say Musk and Tesla are in a “Code Red Situation.” The suggestion is that Musk should step away from his government role if he wants to save the future of Tesla.
The company’s been hurt a lot by Musk’s bad rep, and things don’t look too good.
His influence within the government is fading
On top of all that, Musk’s influence in the government is starting to fade. Take the “5 things” email he sent to over 100,000 federal employees in February.
Some of those employees totally ignored it, with some even responding in foreign languages. It was a pretty clear sign that people weren’t taking him seriously anymore.
Musk lost a key Supreme Court battle
And let’s not forget Musk’s failed attempt to sway a Supreme Court vote in Wisconsin. Despite funneling more than $20 million into Brad Schimel’s campaign and throwing in millions more for this flashy petition giveaway thing, it was a big loss for his authority.
Even some key Trump officials aren’t too keen on him these days.
We’ll see how it all plays out.