Buddy No More: Elon Musk Steps Down from Trump's Gang of Misfits
Unusual Showings of Elon Musk as Trump's Close Companion - Elon Musk's Strangest Moments of Camaraderie with Former President Trump
What happens when the world's richest tech mogul aligns with the most divisive president? That's a question we got answers to when Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, flirted with the dark side and backed Donald Trump in the 2025 election campaign. In return, Trump awarded Musk a spot on his newly formed efficiency agency, Doge, and made him one of his closest aides.
Musk, feeling like the president's "Best Buddy," had a hand in some radical reshaping of the USA, leading many to wonder if they were aiming for an authoritarian state. Though respected as a kind of "shadow president," Musk's tenure with Doge was not without controversy. His cuts to personnel and finances sometimes created chaos and ruffled feathers, including Trump's.
Adieu, Elon!
Tension between Trump and Musk arose over the president's protectionist trade policies, which rubbed the eccentric tech billionaire the wrong way. He even publicly criticized them and was "disappointed" with the new budget bill, Trump's pet project. Now, after a brief politicking stint, Musk has decided to hang up his advisor hat permanently, except when he deems it necessary to lend a helping hand.
"Don't worry, he'll still be around. He'll always be here, helping us in every way," said Trump during the farewell on Friday. It seems this was all part of the game plan, a quick dance with politics before returning to Musk's tech kingdom.
Smile for the Camera
While some will remember Musk and Trump's politically charged days as a tumultuous roller coaster ride, Musk plans to bask in the limelight of being the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX once more. His political foray may have hurt Tesla's image and sales, so a return to the tech world may be a relief.
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"Elon Musk, once a member of President Donald Trump's administration, is now set to return to his roles as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, where he'll once again find himself in the spotlight amidst the ever-evolving realms of entertainment and pop-culture."
"As celebrities and pop-culture influencers continue to weigh in on political discourse, the exit of Elon Musk from the political stage may signal a shift in the convergence of technology, politics, and the broader scope of American society."
