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Musk did not have a formal conversation with Trump before announcing his exit, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, who said his departure was decided “at a senior staff level”.
Some senior White House officials, including deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, were particularly irked by those comments, and the White House was forced to call Republican senators to reiterate Trump’s support for the package, a source familiar with the matter said.
Elon Musk’s tumultuous time as a government employee
On the campaign trail, Musk had said DOGE would be able to cut at least US$2 trillion ($3.11 trillion) in federal spending.
Elon Musk was granted unprecedented authority by Donald Trump to reduce government spending, but his time in Trump’s administration was marked by turbulence. Source: Getty / Andrew Harnik
Musk did not hide his animosity towards the federal workforce, and he predicted that revoking the “COVID-era privilege” of telework would trigger “a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome”.
Musk clashed with three of Trump’s most senior cabinet members: secretary of state Marco Rubio, transportation secretary Sean Duffy and treasury secretary Scott Bessent.
“I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”
Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has defended his role as an unelected official in Trump’s administration. Source: AAP / AP
Musk’s political activities had drawn protests, and some investors called for him to leave his role as Trump’s adviser and focus more closely on managing Tesla, which had experienced declines in sales and its stock price.
“I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said at an economic forum in Qatar.
DOGE ‘mission’ will continue
Musk’s 130-day mandate as a special government employee in the Trump administration was set to expire around 30 May.
In some cases, staff and funding cuts have led to purchasing bottlenecks, increased costs and a brain drain of scientific and technological talent.
Departure comes after criticising Trump’s tax bill
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both,” Musk said in the interview.
Trump later expressed dissatisfaction with some provisions of the bill.
