Tesla CEO Elon Musk has officially exited the Trump administration following a contentious stint as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency. His departure, confirmed by a White House official on Wednesday night, came without a formal send-off or direct conversation with President Donald Trump. Musk later thanked the President via his social media platform, X, marking the end of his efforts to streamline federal operations—an initiative that ultimately fell short of its ambitious $2 trillion savings goal, achieving an estimated but unverified $175 billion instead.
Musk’s exit followed a series of clashes with top cabinet members and growing internal frustration over his aggressive approach to budget cuts and workforce reductions. His criticism of Trump’s latest tax bill, which he deemed too costly and counterproductive, reportedly aggravated senior officials like Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Over time, department heads began resisting Musk’s influence, empowered by Trump’s March reminder that final staffing decisions rested with secretaries, not Musk.
Despite his popularity among some conservative circles and bold appearances—such as wielding a red chainsaw at CPAC to symbolize slashing bureaucracy—Musk’s brash tactics and public insults of key Trump advisers, including calling Peter Navarro a “moron,” eventually led to a decline in his standing. In April, Musk hinted at stepping back from public service, expressing frustration over bureaucratic resistance and a desire to refocus on his business ventures. His departure marks the end of a turbulent chapter in Trump’s administration.
