Go, Elon, and Never Knock On The Door Again
He Says He’s Leaving — Let’s Hold Him to It
Elon Musk has exited the Trump administration—or has he? The wealthiest individual globally declared this week his intention to step away from politics and return to the business sector. "As my designated period as a Special Government Employee concludes, I wish to express my gratitude to President @RealDonaldTrump for the chance to minimize unnecessary expenditures," he shared on Twitter/X.
It is indeed accurate that the designation of special government employee has a nominal limit of 130 days, and today marks the 130th day since Inauguration Day. My colleague David Dayen pointed out 100 days ago that Musk had only 100 days remaining in his governmental role.
Of course, the Trump administration is known for bending the rules. Initially, officials indicated that there was no predetermined exit date for Musk.
If his endeavors had proven to be successful or well-received, he would likely remain in his position.
However, with a precarious business empire and a failure to meet his objectives, the official deadline provided Musk with a convenient escape route.
Musk is among the most detrimental individuals to ever occupy a position of power in American politics.
His actions, without any exaggeration, have severely harmed the health and security of American society and have directly led to the deaths of tens of thousands globally, with millions more at risk given the trajectory he has established.
Musk’s DOGE, which can be viewed as a conspiracy to undermine constitutional governance in this nation, has caused immense disruption.
It is estimated that approximately 10 percent of the already severely understaffed federal workforce has been laid off en masse, disregarding institutional knowledge or experience, let alone the constitutional separation of powers. Fundamental systems essential to American life, such as weather forecasting, air traffic management, and disaster response, are beginning to falter.
America's premier scientific funding system has nearly come to a standstill. DOGE, in conjunction with Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr., has effectively frozen the grant pipeline that supports a significant portion of scientific research, including the development of new cancer treatments and other critical medical advancements.
The fundamental enforcement of the nation's laws has been neglected, with Musk joyfully undermining the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as it could have obstructed his intentions to provide banking services through his X app.
Musk's political maneuvers may be beginning to backfire, posing a risk to his financial standing.
However, the most severe repercussions have been inflicted on foreign aid. USAID has been virtually closed down (fed "into the wood chipper," as Musk triumphantly claimed), and numerous programs that deliver medication and food assistance globally, especially in Africa, have been suspended indefinitely. Enormous warehouses are filled with spoiled food that American taxpayers have already funded but cannot be distributed.
Millions are witnessing a surge in cases of HIV, tuberculosis, and other diseases spiraling out of control.
The mere cessation of PEPFAR, which supplied approximately 20 million individuals with HIV antiretroviral medications at an insignificant cost, has already resulted in the deaths of an estimated 54,500 adults and 5,800 children. Many more fatalities are anticipated.
Since January 21, around 1,500 infants have been born HIV-positive daily, due to Musk's decision to cut off their mothers' treatment.
In this scenario, Musk's seemingly strategic withdrawal holds little significance—the harm has already been inflicted, and the chances of reversal are minimal.
Rebuilding the federal government from this onslaught will require years. Furthermore, as Will Royce recently noted at the Prospect, it should still be presumed that Musk is overseeing DOGE, considering that most of his personal aides remain in control of it. (For the record, his chief deputy, Steve Davis, has just departed from the agency.)
Nonetheless, Musk's withdrawal from the political arena may be more than mere pretense. For one, he has openly criticized Trump's reconciliation bill and has engaged in online disputes with White House adviser Stephen Miller—possibly related to Miller's wife leaving her position at the White House to work directly for Musk (and there is some, shall we say, history there). Right-wing movements often attract some of the most disagreeable individuals; bitter personal conflicts and lasting divisions are commonplace.
Additionally, Musk's political behavior may be beginning to have repercussions that threaten his financial standing.
He undeniably earned significant credibility among Republicans through his unprecedented contributions to Trump's 2024 campaign.
His acquisition of Twitter and its subsequent transformation into a platform that promotes far-right ideologies, where the algorithm favors Republicans while suppressing Democrats (in the name of free speech!), has further amplified his influence.
However, since that time, Tesla—still the most liquid asset of Musk's wealth, as SpaceX remains privately held—has encountered serious difficulties.
Musk's far-right views have significantly alienated the primary customer base for electric vehicles, which consists of affluent liberals, while rival manufacturers are now offering superior, newer, and more affordable models.
Tesla's profits plummeted by 71 percent in the first quarter of this year, and sales continue to decline globally—down 15 percent in California, 49 percent in Europe, and 9 percent in China—all while overall EV sales are on the rise. Musk has publicly staked the company's future on the development of driverless cars and robots, but given his previous track record, these initiatives are likely to be nothing more than illusory.
Tesla's stock price remains at absurdly high levels, primarily due to the cult of personality surrounding Musk among retail investors, who continue to invest in the stock despite its downward trajectory. In contrast, several members of Tesla's board and executives are selling their shares as soon as they become available. Indeed, some institutional investors are starting to divest from Tesla stock specifically because its valuation appears so irrational. "Something is just amiss," remarked a public pension manager from Pennsylvania to Institutional Investor. "It reminds me of GameStop—you wonder if something like that is happening. Why is it going up?"
An investment cult is susceptible to a crisis of confidence, particularly if the figurehead begins to sell off their shares. Musk may not be able to realize much of his paper wealth after all.
Another significant factor influencing the situation is Musk's immense ego and his sensitivity to criticism. Since January, he has repeatedly lamented the Tesla Takedown protests, often sounding as if he is on the verge of tears. "Tim Walz, who is a huge jerk, was running around on stage with the Tesla stock cut in half. He was overjoyed," he bitterly expressed on Fox News back in March. "What an evil thing to do. What a creep. What a jerk. Who derives joy from that?" Mommm, they’re being so mean to me, all I did was throw one little Sieg Heil salute, ruin the American government, and condemn tens of millions of people to a painful, lingering death!
This situation may provoke Musk to react with increased anger, but he might also choose to withdraw. He has already indicated that he will significantly reduce his political contributions.
As he stated to The Washington Post, "DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything … something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed for it even if we had nothing to do with it."