As soon as President Donald Trump was sworn in, Elon Musk took center stage at a rally in Washington, where he proudly declared to the crowd that he planned to give his all for them.
With a big sigh followed by laughter, he seemed to be soaking up the weight of the position he had accepted: taking charge of the Department of Government Efficiency, a role that would require him to dismantle large parts of the federal structure.
“I’m looking forward to this. It’s going to be great,” Musk said while smiling widely. As soon as Musk began pouring both money and energy into Trump’s 2024 campaign and started speaking in support of him, many began to question how long their partnership would hold.
Musk’s Role in the Trump Administration Begins to Fade
After 100 days into Trump’s second term, the once bold and loud Musk, who had become the face of government cuts, has started pulling back. The billionaire now appears less involved with Trump’s administration as he puts more attention on DOGE, a project he introduced.
While Musk had previously enjoyed a strong presence at the White House, his influence is now gradually shrinking. His own companies, including Tesla, have taken a hit as more people link them to his political image and decisions.
At the same time, Musk has become somewhat problematic for Trump. His presence in government seems to be shrinking more and more. His early days in Washington were marked by dramatic moves, such as swinging a chainsaw as a symbol of cutting government waste.
But lately, Musk has reduced the financial impact he once promised DOGE would deliver. He has also voiced disagreement with Trump’s tough tariff plans and even clashed with a few Trump officials in public.
During Tesla’s April 22 earnings call, Musk appeared drained of the excitement he once had. He shared that from May, he would cut down the amount of time he spends on DOGE. This announcement came after Tesla reported a sharp drop in earnings, with profits falling 71 percent during the last quarter.
Musk said during the call, “As many people already know, there’s been some pushback on how much of my time has gone into my government role at the Department of Government Efficiency.”
He went on to say that protesters, many of whom he believes rely on the government’s wasteful spending, are the ones behind the recent pressure on him and his company.
Even with a smaller role, Musk confirmed he will still work with the government once or twice a week, depending on what the president wants and as long as his involvement remains helpful.
