US President Donald Trump, during what could be the final cabinet meeting of his current term, publicly acknowledged and praised Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his contributions to the administration.
Trump stated that Musk could “stay as long as you want” in his role at the White House but recognized that he may wish “to get back home to his cars.”
Musk, who has been serving in an informal but influential capacity as head of the administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), had revealed just last month that he intended to step back from that role to devote more attention to his electric car company, Tesla, which is reportedly facing several challenges, both operational and reputational.
“The vast majority of the people in this country really respect and appreciate you,” Trump told Musk during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. “And you know you’re invited to stay as long as you want,” he added, while also admitting that Musk may prefer “to get back home to his cars.”
Musk, who remains the world’s richest individual, has seen his involvement in Trump’s administration spark a wave of criticism and protest, particularly targeting Tesla. His work in helping implement cost-cutting measures for the government has coincided with backlash from the public, including boycott campaigns and vandalism of Tesla showrooms across both Europe and the United States.
“You really have sacrificed a lot. They treated you very unfairly,” Trump commented, sympathizing with Musk’s situation and referencing the hostile response from critics and political opponents.
“They did like to burn my cars, which is not great,” Musk responded, acknowledging the vandalism and damage that Tesla has endured in the wake of his increased visibility in Washington.
On the same day as the cabinet meeting, The Wall Street Journal published a report suggesting that Tesla’s board of directors had recently started the process of identifying a potential successor to Musk as CEO. The article, citing sources familiar with internal discussions, claimed that Tesla’s board had communicated with Musk, urging him to dedicate more of his time and energy to the company rather than to his political advisory work.
According to the report, the board had allegedly reached out to external recruitment firms to begin a formal CEO search, motivated by concerns over Musk’s divided focus between Tesla and his role in the Trump administration.
However, Tesla responded swiftly and forcefully to dismiss the claim. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Robyn Denholm, the chairperson of Tesla’s board, issued a denial on behalf of the company.
“There was a media report erroneously claiming that the Tesla Board had contacted recruitment firms to initiate a CEO search at the company. This is absolutely false,” Denholm wrote. “The CEO of Tesla is Elon Musk and the Board is highly confident in his ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead.”
David Sacks, a known Musk confidant and a current member of the Trump administration, also weighed in on the matter. He explained that Musk is not stepping away entirely from DOGE, but is instead reducing his level of involvement while ensuring that the agency is well-structured to continue functioning effectively.
Sacks likened Musk’s current approach to the one he took during his acquisition of Twitter in 2022, where he initially took a hands-on approach before transitioning into what Sacks described as “maintenance mode.”
“Once he felt like he had a mental model and he had the people in place that he trusted, he can move to more of a maintenance mode,” Sacks said while speaking on the All-In podcast last week.
Despite the rumors and public scrutiny, it appears Musk remains committed to Tesla’s future while still offering input in government affairs, albeit on a scaled-back basis. His dual role as both a corporate leader and a political influencer has made him one of the most polarizing figures in both the private and public sectors.
His position in Trump’s inner circle has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters applauding his efforts to reduce waste and promote efficiency in government, while critics argue that his influence has led to harmful public service cuts. Meanwhile, Musk continues to balance his business priorities with his unique standing as an adviser to the current administration.
What you should know
Elon Musk, while scaling back his role in Washington’s efficiency efforts, remains central to Tesla’s future amid public scrutiny and speculation. Trump voiced admiration for his work and offered him the freedom to stay or step away. Tesla firmly denies any CEO succession plans.
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