Musk says he still wants to be Tesla CEO, will do less political spending
STORY: :: Qatar Economic Forum
:: Elon Musk says he still wants to be Tesla CEO, will do less political spending in the future
:: Doha, Qatar
:: May 20, 2025
MISHAL HUSAIN, REPORTER: "Do you see yourself and are you committed to still being the Chief Executive of Tesla in five years time?"
MUSK: "Yes."
HUSAIN: "No doubt about that at all?"
MUSK: "Well, not if I die."
HUSAIN: "Ok, short of that."
MUSK: "Let me see if I'm dead." //
MUSK: "In terms of political spending, I'm going to do a lot less in the future."
HUSAIN: "And why is that?"
MUSK: "I think I've done enough."
HUSAIN: "Is it because of blowback?"
MUSK: "Well if I see a reason to, to political spending in the future I will do it. I do not currently see a reason."
Musk made the comments via video call at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha weeks after the electric vehicle maker's chair dismissed reports that the board had approached executive search firms about finding his successor.
His comments could have large implications for next year's mid-term elections as he has been a Republican political mega donor. He helped Donald Trump get elected as U.S. President with a quarter of a billion dollars in donations and set up the administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he is leading.
The close involvement has given rise to doubts about his focus on the world's most valuable automaker in recent months.
Having reasonable control of Tesla was the most important factor in staying on as head of the company, he said.
Musk said at the event that Tesla had already turned around sales, and demand was strong in regions apart from Europe where the company has faced protests over his political views.
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