Elon Musk pulls back from Trump's DOGE role to refocus on Tesla
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, hinted at stepping back from his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) role by posting a picture of himself wearing an X-branded t-shirt, in a symbolic shift from the "Tech Support" and "DOGE" t-shirts he has frequently donned since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
The post on X comes just days after Tesla's earnings call, where Musk addressed growing shareholder concerns over his divided focus. Tesla reported a 20% drop in car sales and a staggering 70% plunge in profits for the first quarter of 2025.
During the call, Musk announced that starting May, he would "significantly" reduce his time spent at DOGE, a Trump administration initiative aimed at slashing federal spending, and instead reallocate "far more" of his attention to Tesla. "Starting next month, I'll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla," Musk said. The wardrobe change comes at a time when Musk is under fire not only from investors but also from customers. Over the past several months, Tesla showrooms across the US have witnessed protests. Some Tesla owners staged symbolic handovers of their vehicles to rival carmakers, while others called for boycotts. Meanwhile, Musk's relationship with Trump has grown increasingly visible. Earlier this year, the White House hosted a Trump-backed event showcasing Tesla vehicles and Musk's vision for American manufacturing leadership.
Musk has contributed $250 million towards Trump's re-election campaign, a move that has further polarised public opinion around Tesla.
Musk has repeatedly defended DOGE's work as "critical" for America's future.
Tesla plans to launch a cheaper Model Y variant later this year and is pushing ahead with its much-anticipated robotaxi service in 2025.
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