Elon Musk and the White House on Wednesday slammed Politico and other media outlets for reporting that the billionaire will ‘step down’ as the Department of Government Efficiency’s head. This comes after it was reported that President Donald Trump has ‘informed his inner circle’ that his special adviser will step down from all government roles.
Washington, D.C. – A political firestorm erupted Wednesday after Politico and other outlets reported that Elon Musk would soon step down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), prompting fierce pushback from both the billionaire and the Trump administration.
The Controversial Report
Politico claimed, citing unnamed sources, that:
- President Trump had informed his Cabinet and inner circle that Musk would exit all government roles
- The decision was allegedly made in recent days, with Musk expected to return full-time to his businesses
- The report suggested Trump understood Musk’s need to focus on Tesla, whose shares dropped 2% Wednesday amid the speculation
Forceful Denials
1. White House Response
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted the story on X (formerly Twitter):
“This ‘scoop’ is garbage. Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete.”
2. Musk’s Reaction
The Tesla CEO dismissed the claims as “fake news”, maintaining his commitment to his cost-cutting role at DOGE, where he has:
- Slashed agency budgets
- Overseen staff reductions
- Streamlined federal operations
Conflicting Signals?
Despite the denials, Trump’s own comments Monday added fuel to the speculation:
“He’s been amazing, but I also think he’s got a big company to run… At some point, he’s going to be going back. He wants to. I’d keep him as long as I could.”
Meanwhile, in a March 10 Fox Business interview, Musk told Larry Kudlow:
“You going to go another year?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Musk replied.
Market and Political Fallout
- Tesla stock dipped amid the uncertainty
- Critics questioned media sourcing after the swift White House/Musk rebuttal
- The episode highlights Musk’s unique position straddling business and government
What’s Next?
While Musk and the administration insist no departure is imminent, the conflicting narratives suggest:
- A phased exit could occur after DOGE reforms conclude
- Musk may be balancing Tesla priorities with government duties
- The “DOGE Chief” role (a nickname nodding to his Dogecoin ties) remains fluid
One thing’s clear: Any Musk transition will be on his terms—and likely announced via X first.