Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and self-styled government reformer, is stepping down from his position as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, ending a controversial and turbulent chapter in Washington defined by bold promises, sweeping disruption, and unmet expectations.
Musk, who entered the capital with the confidence of a tech magnate who had redefined the auto, aerospace, and social media industries, was welcomed into Trump’s inner circle with fanfare. Dubbed the president’s “co-president” by critics, Musk played an unusually high-profile role—attending Cabinet meetings in a “tech support” shirt and MAGA hat, flying aboard Air Force One, and even sleeping at the White House.
“He’s a smart guy who really cares for our country,” Trump said of Musk, who was also one of his top campaign donors, contributing at least $250 million. Musk’s time in Washington was shaped by an ambitious plan to slash federal spending and streamline government through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
But the promises proved far more sweeping than the results. Musk initially vowed to cut $2 trillion in government spending. That target was soon revised downward to $1 trillion, then $150 billion—an amount now in doubt. His tenure was marked by mass layoffs across federal agencies, many of which were later reversed, and an aggressive campaign to root out alleged waste and fraud. Yet despite rhetoric about widespread corruption, no prosecutions were brought.
The methods Musk employed—deploying software engineers to dig into federal databases, issuing sweeping directives, and bypassing traditional processes—shocked Washington insiders and rattled career civil servants. Some resigned in protest. Others were fired in large numbers, only for some to be reinstated later.
Despite the chaos, Trump has remained loyal. On his Truth Social platform, the president announced Musk’s departure would be marked with a Friday press conference. “This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way,” Trump wrote. “Elon is terrific!”
Musk had previously stated his role was always meant to be temporary, though just last month he told reporters he was open to staying “indefinitely, as long as the president wants me to do it.”
Now, his departure comes on the heels of a decision to curtail political donations and a sharp public critique of Trump’s signature legislative agenda. What began as an ambitious experiment in outsider governance ends as a cautionary tale about the limits of disruption in the public sector.
Musk leaves behind a government still recovering from the upheaval and a legacy that, while dramatic, is marked more by spectacle than substance.