In typical Elon fashion, the billionaire entrepreneur isn’t mincing words when it comes to his future in politics. The Tesla and SpaceX founder has forcefully denied reports suggesting he’ll soon depart his controversial government role, dismissing them as “fake news” in a characteristically blunt social media response.
The drama unfolded after both NBC News and Politico published reports claiming Musk would soon transition back to full-time business duties. According to these outlets, the tech mogul’s controversial government policies and Tesla’s recent stock troubles were driving factors in this supposed decision.
The controversy began when a senior White House official allegedly told NBC News that President Donald Trump had discussed Musk’s return to the private sector during a cabinet meeting last month. This explosive claim immediately sent shockwaves through both Washington and Wall Street.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly jumped to Musk’s defense, calling the reports “garbage” while clarifying the administration’s position. “Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete,” she stated.
Musk himself responded with his trademark brevity, posting on X: “Yeah, fake news” in response to the swirling rumors about his imminent departure.
Since taking on his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (aptly nicknamed DOGE), Musk has become one of the most polarizing figures in Washington. His aggressive approach to government downsizing has resulted in entire agencies being dismantled and tens of thousands of workers from the 2.3 million federal workforce either being fired or agreeing to leave their positions.
These dramatic cuts have sparked numerous lawsuits in both state and federal courts, with critics condemning what they view as hasty and poorly planned government restructuring. Supporters, however, praise Musk’s efficiency-driven approach to trimming bureaucratic bloat.
Just days before this latest controversy, Musk revealed a darker side to the political battlefield, claiming members of his DOGE team were receiving daily death threats due to their controversial work.
Despite Musk’s denial of an imminent exit, questions remain about the actual timeline of his government service. NBC News reported that the tech billionaire would leave at the end of his 130-day term as a special government employee—which would be May 30th.
However, the White House has previously stated that DOGE, as a temporary organization, would continue operating until July 4th, 2026—the 250th anniversary of the United States. This discrepancy has left many political insiders speculating about the true nature of Musk’s relationship with the administration.
For Tesla shareholders, these political distractions come at a challenging time. The electric vehicle maker’s stock has experienced significant volatility, with some analysts attributing the fluctuations directly to investor concerns about Musk’s divided attention.
Whether Musk remains in his government position for weeks, months, or until DOGE’s official end date next year, one thing is certain—his foray into politics has been as disruptive and headline-grabbing as his business ventures.
Some political analysts suggest this government role could be testing the waters for larger political ambitions, while others believe Musk’s true goal has always been to influence policy from outside traditional political structures.
As the controversy continues to unfold, both Musk’s supporters and critics remain glued to his social media for the next explosive update. In typical Elon fashion, it seems the only predictable thing about his political future is its unpredictability.