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ELON MUSK’S TIME in Donald Trump’s inner political circle may be up, as reports say the president is planning on axeing him from his ill-defined influential position.
Politico and ABC News quoted unnamed sources saying Musk could step away from an unprecedented role in which he is spearheading brutal cuts to US government services and has emerged only second to Trump as the face of the administration.
Despite having no official cabinet position, Musk has regularly appeared with Trump in the Oval Office and flies with the president on weekends to his Florida golf resort.
The South Africa-born tech mogul is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. He also owns X, formerly known as Twitter.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Politico’s report on the exit “garbage.” Another spokesman, Harrison Fields, said Politico is a “tabloid paper that would rather run fake news for clicks than real reporting.”
However, there has been speculation from day one over how long Musk can maintain his extraordinary position, one that has seen him dubbed Trump’s “co-president.”
For two months, the world’s richest person has overseen an ideologically driven crusade by the new so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
While the Trump administration claims DOGE aims to save money, Musk has triggered widespread alarm by crippling US foreign aid programs and scientific research almost overnight.
Just one consequence of this is that hundreds of people working for Concern Worldwide – including around 20% of staff in its Dublin office – will lose their jobs.
Musk’s prominence inside the White House has reportedly created friction in Trump’s inner circle.
Trump hinted at a gradual break-up this week, telling reporters that “at some point Elon’s going to want to go back to his company.”
“He wants to,” Trump said.
I’d keep him as long as I could keep him.
In recent months, Musk has seemingly prioritised political business over his companies.
Tuesday’s contest to fill a vacant seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court quickly took on national implications after Trump and especially Musk threw their weight behind the conservative candidate, Brad Schimel.
Reprising his successful 2024 campaign tactics for Trump, Musk doled out cash to voters to drum up publicity and turnout for Schimel.
He poured some $20 million in total into the race and campaigned in person over the weekend.
However, it didn’t stop the Democrats’ candidate Susan Crawford, who won with ease.
Andrew Koneschusky, a political communications expert and former press secretary to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, called the Wisconsin vote a “referendum” on Musk.
“Watch closely for whether vulnerable Republicans begin to distance themselves from him in the weeks and months ahead,” he said.
With reporting by © AFP2025
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