Is Elon Musk Parting Ways with DOGE?

It’s evident that Elon Musk is less visibly engaged in Washington politics than he once was, but assuming this marks his complete political retreat could be a mistake.

While it is true that the dramatic joint press appearances with Donald Trump have diminished and Trump is no longer endorsing Tesla from the White House lawn, Musk has mentioned plans to step back from government relations to concentrate on Tesla.

However, Musk tends to be somewhat less than truthful. He has claimed he will decrease his political expenditures but I can recall the promise of “funding secured.” His influence remains with numerous loyalists like Steve Davis, Chris Young, and Jehn Balajadia still embedded in the government. Even when announcing a retreat from DC, Musk indicated he would still allocate “a day or two per week” to political matters for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.

I see the optimistic political stories being circulated as wishful thinking, although I can understand the sentiment. Much of Musk’s influence has been based on spectacle, making it easy to assume that if he isn’t in the spotlight, nothing significant is occurring. This would be a misjudgment. The full extent of DOGE’s activities remains unclear, and without a thorough GAO report, we may never fully understand its impact.

Until recently, Musk’s penchant for spectacle allowed Tesla to avoid the costs of traditional marketing. Why spend on advertising when your celebrity CEO is a host on Saturday Night Live? He nurtured a devoted fan base that elevated Tesla’s stock prices. For many around the globe — and especially within the tech sector — Musk symbolized Silicon Valley success. He achieved a level of fame that even Steve Jobs couldn’t match, reminiscent of Howard Hughes.

Yet, Musk’s prominence — along with his actions that drew parallels to past dramatic gestures — put his associates in a scrutinized position. It became evident that DOGE was neither cost-effective for consumers nor was it endearing to regulatory bodies overseeing Musk’s ventures. The D.C. landscape, often likened to an unattractive version of Hollywood, meant many influential personalities were less than thrilled about Musk being in the limelight.