Elon Musk, Tesla’s mercurial CEO, will be on stage with former President Donald Trump for a joint press conference. So they should — as Musk draws to a close his official government service and celebrates his many accomplishments. The occasion comes as multiple DOGE staffers have recently departed. Thousands more are planning to leave this federal workforce-cutting plan behind. This time around would be the end of Musk’s reign at DOGE. It serves to illustrate the new relationship dynamics between these two political powerhouses.
Musk’s brief involvement in politics has been notable, especially considering he worked as a “special government employee” for Trump after investing over $250 million to support the president’s election campaign. During his four-month tenure as head of DOGE, Musk faced considerable obstacles. These controversies marred his public reputation and affected consumer perceptions of Tesla.
Trump has consistently praised Musk throughout his presidency, acknowledging the entrepreneur’s influence and innovation. Given these developments, Musk reacted with dismay at the new political reality. He stated that current developments “undermine the work that the DOGE team is doing,” reflecting his concerns over the operational effectiveness of the department he led.
Musk recently made moves to publicly separate himself from politics. While he has made noises about lowering future campaign donations, that indicates a change in his priorities. This change could not be more timely. While Trump continues to pressure Congress to approve his so-called “one big, beautiful bill,” Musk has publicly come out against that effort.
Trump has claimed China was the one breaking preliminary trade deals. Speculation on this accusation took root after a federal trade court voided his reciprocal tariffs. That’s why the former president is said to be planning to appeal this ruling to the Supreme Court, potentially as soon as Friday.
Musk’s support for lower tariffs contrasts sharply with Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods. This divergence, of course, highlights the nature of their relationship — it’s by no means simple. While these representatives are all different in their own ways, Musk has publicly sworn— er, accepted — gratitude on social media toward Trump for his capital help during their brief flirtation.
“Undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.” – Elon Musk
Musk, meanwhile, is preparing to return to his withdrawn political role. At the same time, both he and Trump are facing new adversaries in their respective arenas. Our next press event will serve as an opportunity for the two of them to share how their relationship has helped them grow. More importantly, they’ll chart new courses as the political winds change direction.