
CTF Life's Carbon Reduction Targets Validated by SBTi Reinforcing the Company's Commitment to Climate Action
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 March 2025 - CTF Life announced today that its carbon reduction targets have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The result shows CTF Life's commitment to decarbonisation and provides a set of measurements by which the company's stakeholders can monitor its ongoing efforts.
In October last year, CTF Life demonstrated leadership in advancing sustainability through science-based targets aligned with the Paris Agreement and became the first company from the Banks, Diverse Financials and Insurance sector that primarily operates in the Greater Bay Area to submit a carbon reduction commitment letter to the SBTi, a corporate climate action organisation that enables businesses worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.
CTF Life targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 37.8% by financial year (FY) 2029 (from the FY2023 base year).
Additionally, within its Scope 3 emissions, CTF Life commits the following which covers 65% of its total investment and lending by assets:
To reduce the GHG emissions per MWh from the electricity generation sector within its listed equity and corporate bond portfolio by 59% by FY2029 (from the FY2023 base year), and
To have at least 44.8% of the invested value in its listed equity and corporate bond portfolio allocated to companies that set SBTi-validated targets by FY2029.
Man Kit Ip, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CTF Life, said: 'At CTF Life, we recognise that climate action is both a critical responsibility and a powerful opportunity to inspire and drive meaningful change. CTF Life has been collaborating closely with CTFS to align our overall Net Zero 2050 ambition; the validation of our targets underscores our unwavering commitment to reducing emissions across our operations and investment portfolio. This milestone reaffirms our dedication to building a sustainable future while creating value beyond insurance for our stakeholders.'
CTF Life will implement the following strategy and actions to achieve its targets:
Decarbonisation levers for Scope 1 and 2 operational emissions:
Electric vehicles (EV) transition: Replace leased/owned fleet with EVs.
Energy efficiency: Explore opportunities to improve energy efficiency in the office buildings.
Purchase of renewable energy certificates: With priority focuses on exploring EV transition and energy efficiency, CTF Life may also explore the sourcing and purchase of renewable energy or renewable energy certificates (REC) from local energy suppliers, or International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-RECs) from Asia or other oversea markets to reduce the residual Scope 2 operational emissions, if no options are available within the same market.
Levers for Scope 3 category 15 emissions:
Active ownership and engagement strategy: Implement engagement strategy with a phased approach to facilitate real world reductions.
Climate financing: Explore ESG-related products and climate financing opportunities.
Strategy and governance: Establish robust governance structure to drive climate actions.
Policy and advocacy: Explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership to scale impacts.
CTF Life selected these actions because the above-mentioned decarbonisation levers are expected to have the most direct impacts on the company's climate transition journey.
As of June 2024, the company had already reduced its investment portfolio carbon footprint by more than 15% compared to baseline figures from June 2023. Additionally, CTF Life has invested over HKD3.5 billion in ESG-labelled bonds and decarbonisation impact funds, primarily focused on Asia, to support the region's transition to a greener economy.
Hashtag: #CTFLife
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About CTF Life
Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited ('CTF Life') is proud of its rich, 40-year legacy in Hong Kong. CTF Life is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CTF Services Limited ('CTFS') (Hong Kong Stock Code: 659) and one of the most well-established life insurance companies in Hong Kong. As a member of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited, CTF Life consistently strengthens its collaboration with the diverse conglomerate of the Cheng family ('Chow Tai Fook Group' or 'the Group') to support customers and their loved ones in navigating life's journey with personalised planning solutions, lifelong protection and diverse lifestyle experiences. By leveraging the Group's robust financial strength and strategic investments across the globe, CTF Life aspires to become a leading insurance company in Asia while continuously creating value beyond insurance.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - As nations abandon climate goals, cities are more important than ever
A series of recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back environmental regulations includes plans to eliminate all limits on greenhouse gases from coal and gas-fired power plants and to rescind the 2009 finding that planet-heating gases, like carbon dioxide, pose a real threat to human health. These rollbacks also come on the heels of recent proposals from the European Union, Australia and Canada to relax rules related to emissions and environmental protections. The overwhelming international scientific consensus is that if we are to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero around 2050. Unfortunately, current commitments from the international community through the Paris Agreement fall far short of reaching those goals. Despite the grim reality of weakened national ambition, cities continue to lead with bold and transformative climate action. Global cities are increasingly working collaboratively toward achieving carbon neutrality through innovative solutions and policy approaches that are replicable and scalable worldwide. Some have even set their sights on becoming climate-positive by removing carbon from the atmosphere to undo past emissions. New York City, which has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent within the next 25 years, is one such example. It has developed a number of innovative approaches to reducing emissions, including offering a range of resources to help commercial and large-scale residential buildings with energy retrofits, expanding low-carbon transportation options and cutting emissions from all foods served in city-operated premises. At the same time, the Big Apple has invested over $20 billion to adapt neighborhoods to climate change risks such as flooding, heat, and sea-level rise. The City of Helsinki in Finland has announced its goals to be carbon neutral by 2030, zero carbon by 2040, and thereafter, carbon negative. It is working to achieve this by reducing embodied carbon in buildings by setting limits on the amount of carbon emitted by buildings over their entire lifecycle, including from the production and transportation of the building materials. Construction companies are working to stay under the limit by combining a range of solutions, including changes in the choice of materials, heating solutions and building operations, and repurposing and reusing building elements. Among other innovations, Helsinki's energy company Helen closed its last coal-burning plant in 2025 and is cutting emissions in Helsinki by 30 percent compared to 2024. Helen is also building one of the country's largest underground heat storage facilities in former oil storage caves. The facility is projected to reduce Helen's carbon dioxide emissions by 21,000 tons annually. In the Netherlands, Amsterdam's goal is to achieve a 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2030, and a 95 percent reduction by 2050. The city's Climate Neutral Program focuses on reducing carbon dioxide released within the city of Amsterdam by phasing out the use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal and structurally transitioning to cleaner energy such as geothermal and solar. The city is also providing grants, loans and free advice to its citizens to help accelerate the energy transition and phase out the use of natural gas in homes. Vancouver, Canada, is another city taking the lead, reducing carbon pollution by 50 percent by 2030 and taking proactive action to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change. Its Climate Emergency Action Plan identifies a suite of actions focused on land-use planning, transportation and buildings. These actions collectively position Vancouver to reach three targets to cut carbon pollution from trips taken within the city: 90 percent of residents being within an easy walk, bike or roll of their daily needs, two-thirds of all trips being by active transportation or transit and 50 percent of all kilometers driven in Vancouver by electric vehicles. Two targets aim to cut carbon pollution from buildings in half from what it was in 2007 and to reduce embodied emissions from new buildings and construction projects by 40 percent compared to 2018. The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy provides a roadmap for addressing the top five climate change-related hazards that Vancouver faces. Sydney, Australia, has three long-standing business partnership programs. Through the Better Buildings Partnership, the city collaborates with property owners representing 55 percent of its office space. The partnership members have reduced emissions intensity by 95 percent. The CitySwitch program supports office-based businesses on their net-zero journey, and 80 percent of members have now switched to using renewable electricity. The Sustainable Destination Partnership brings together businesses in Sydney's accommodation and entertainment sector to reduce emissions, water, and waste. The programs all function as collaborative partnerships, with the city playing the role of convenor and facilitator. These cities are among 23 working together with my organization, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, to achieve carbon neutrality, not just through incremental improvements but rather through radical, transformative changes to core city systems. The goal is to demonstrate innovative solutions and policy approaches that are replicable and that can inspire other cities to take action to reach carbon neutrality as soon as possible. And, as cities learn from each other about what works to achieve these goals, they are paying it forward by sharing the work and encouraging other cities to take similar action. Why is the work of cities so vital to addressing climate change? Urban areas are responsible for an estimated 75 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. By setting and achieving these carbon neutrality goals, global cities have the ability to keep us on track toward the Paris Agreement climate goals despite wavering support from the U.S. and other governments. Most critically, these efforts are vital to offsetting the threat to natural systems and promoting the health and well-being of all its citizens. Simone Mangili is the executive director of The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


The Hill
a day ago
- The Hill
As nations abandon climate goals, cities are more important than ever
A series of recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back environmental regulations includes plans to eliminate all limits on greenhouse gases from coal and gas-fired power plants and to rescind the 2009 finding that planet-heating gases, like carbon dioxide, pose a real threat to human health. These rollbacks also come on the heels of recent proposals from the European Union, Australia and Canada to relax rules related to emissions and environmental protections. The overwhelming international scientific consensus is that if we are to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero around 2050. Unfortunately, current commitments from the international community through the Paris Agreement fall far short of reaching those goals. Despite the grim reality of weakened national ambition, cities continue to lead with bold and transformative climate action. Global cities are increasingly working collaboratively toward achieving carbon neutrality through innovative solutions and policy approaches that are replicable and scalable worldwide. Some have even set their sights on becoming climate-positive by removing carbon from the atmosphere to undo past emissions. New York City, which has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent within the next 25 years, is one such example. It has developed a number of innovative approaches to reducing emissions, including offering a range of resources to help commercial and large-scale residential buildings with energy retrofits, expanding low-carbon transportation options and cutting emissions from all foods served in city-operated premises. At the same time, the Big Apple has invested over $20 billion to adapt neighborhoods to climate change risks such as flooding, heat, and sea-level rise. The City of Helsinki in Finland has announced its goals to be carbon neutral by 2030, zero carbon by 2040, and thereafter, carbon negative. It is working to achieve this by reducing embodied carbon in buildings by setting limits on the amount of carbon emitted by buildings over their entire lifecycle, including from the production and transportation of the building materials. Construction companies are working to stay under the limit by combining a range of solutions, including changes in the choice of materials, heating solutions and building operations, and repurposing and reusing building elements. Among other innovations, Helsinki's energy company Helen closed its last coal-burning plant in 2025 and is cutting emissions in Helsinki by 30 percent compared to 2024. Helen is also building one of the country's largest underground heat storage facilities in former oil storage caves. The facility is projected to reduce Helen's carbon dioxide emissions by 21,000 tons annually. In the Netherlands, Amsterdam's goal is to achieve a 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2030, and a 95 percent reduction by 2050. The city's Climate Neutral Program focuses on reducing carbon dioxide released within the city of Amsterdam by phasing out the use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal and structurally transitioning to cleaner energy such as geothermal and solar. The city is also providing grants, loans and free advice to its citizens to help accelerate the energy transition and phase out the use of natural gas in homes. Vancouver, Canada, is another city taking the lead, reducing carbon pollution by 50 percent by 2030 and taking proactive action to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change. Its Climate Emergency Action Plan identifies a suite of actions focused on land-use planning, transportation and buildings. These actions collectively position Vancouver to reach three targets to cut carbon pollution from trips taken within the city: 90 percent of residents being within an easy walk, bike or roll of their daily needs, two-thirds of all trips being by active transportation or transit and 50 percent of all kilometers driven in Vancouver by electric vehicles. Two targets aim to cut carbon pollution from buildings in half from what it was in 2007 and to reduce embodied emissions from new buildings and construction projects by 40 percent compared to 2018. The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy provides a roadmap for addressing the top five climate change-related hazards that Vancouver faces. Sydney, Australia, has three long-standing business partnership programs. Through the Better Buildings Partnership, the city collaborates with property owners representing 55 percent of its office space. The partnership members have reduced emissions intensity by 95 percent. The CitySwitch program supports office-based businesses on their net-zero journey, and 80 percent of members have now switched to using renewable electricity. The Sustainable Destination Partnership brings together businesses in Sydney's accommodation and entertainment sector to reduce emissions, water, and waste. The programs all function as collaborative partnerships, with the city playing the role of convenor and facilitator. These cities are among 23 working together with my organization, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, to achieve carbon neutrality, not just through incremental improvements but rather through radical, transformative changes to core city systems. The goal is to demonstrate innovative solutions and policy approaches that are replicable and that can inspire other cities to take action to reach carbon neutrality as soon as possible. And, as cities learn from each other about what works to achieve these goals, they are paying it forward by sharing the work and encouraging other cities to take similar action. Why is the work of cities so vital to addressing climate change? Urban areas are responsible for an estimated 75 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. By setting and achieving these carbon neutrality goals, global cities have the ability to keep us on track toward the Paris Agreement climate goals despite wavering support from the U.S. and other governments. Most critically, these efforts are vital to offsetting the threat to natural systems and promoting the health and well-being of all its citizens. Simone Mangili is the executive director of The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance.

Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business Insider
From 'First Buddy' to feud, here's how Elon Musk and Donald Trump's bromance crumbled
Elon Musk and Donald Trump have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. While the two traded barbs during Trump's first presidency, they've become political allies. Musk officially joined the administration, but recently criticized Trump's "big, beautiful bill." Elon Musk and Donald Trump have had something of an on-again-off-again relationship over the years. The world's richest person and the two-time president of the United States weren't always close, but became singular political allies, with Musk calling himself "first buddy" following Trump's 2024 victory and donating more than $200 million toward pro-Trump super PACs. At the beginning of Trump's second term, Musk was frequently seen on the president's side and served as the de facto head of the White House DOGE office, the cost-cutting initiative that made waves throughout the federal government. In May, Musk started to separate himself somewhat from Trump, saying he'd devote more time to his businesses and spend less money on politics. By early June, it appeared that their relationship was blowing up in real time as the two publicly disagreed over the "Big, Beautiful Bill." Here's how the two billionaires reached this point. November 2016: Musk says Trump is 'not the right guy' for the job Just before the 2016 presidential election, Musk told CNBC he didn't think Trump should be president. "I feel a bit stronger that he is not the right guy. He doesn't seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States," Musk said. The billionaire added that Hillary Clinton's economic and environmental policies were the "right ones." December 2016: Musk appointed to Trump's advisory councils After he won the presidency, Trump appointed Musk to two economic advisory councils, along with other business leaders like Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Musk received criticism for working with the controversial president, but he defended his choice by saying he was using the position to lobby for better environmental and immigration policies. —Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2017 June 2017: Musk cut ties with the White House in protest of Trump's environmental policies On June 1, 2017, after Trump announced the US would pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Musk resigned from his roles on presidential advisory boards. "Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world," Musk said in a tweet announcing his departure. —Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2017 Musk's goal for Tesla is to curb dependence on fossil fuels through electric vehicles, solar power, and stationary energy storage. January 2020: 'One of our great geniuses' During a January 2020 interview with CNBC, Trump praised Musk's accomplishments and intelligence. "You have to give him credit," the former president said, referring to Tesla becoming more valuable than Ford and General Motors. "He's also doing the rockets. He likes rockets. And he's doing good at rockets too, by the way." Trump went on to call Musk "one of our great geniuses" and likened him to Thomas Edison. May 2020: Trump backs up Musk in feud with California's COVID-19 rules As the pandemic gripped the US in early 2020, Musk clashed with California public-health officials who forced Tesla to temporarily shut down its factory there. Trump voiced his support for Musk. "California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW," Trump tweeted in May 2020. "It can be done Fast & Safely!" "Thank you!" Musk replied. May 2022: Musk said he would reinstate Trump's Twitter account In May, Musk said he would unban Trump as Twitter's new owner. Musk called the ban a "morally bad decision" and "foolish to the extreme" in an interview with the Financial Times. Twitter kicked Trump off its platform following the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. The Tesla billionaire has called himself a "free speech absolutist," and one of his key goals for taking Twitter private was to loosen content moderation. July 2022: Trump calls Musk a 'bullshit artist' In July, Trump took aim at Musk, saying the businessman voted for him but later denied it. "You know [Musk] said the other day 'Oh, I've never voted for a Republican,'" Trump said during a Saturday rally in Anchorage, Alaska. "I said 'I didn't know that.' He told me he voted for me. So he's another bullshit artist." On Monday, Musk tweeted that Trump's claim was "not true." said he shouldn't run for president again. "I don't hate the man, but it's time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset. Dems should also call off the attack – don't make it so that Trump's only way to survive is to regain the Presidency," he tweeted. He continued: "Do we really want a bull in a china shop situation every single day!? Also, I think the legal maximum age for start of Presidential term should be 69." Trump is 76 years old. July 2022: Trump lashes out Trump then went on the offensive, posting a lengthy attack on Musk on Truth Social, the social media company he founded. "When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether it's electric cars that don't drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocketships to nowhere, without which subsidies he'd be worthless, and telling me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, 'drop to your knees and beg,' and he would have done it," Trump said in a post that criticized two of Musk's ventures, Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX. "Lmaooo," Musk responded on Twitter. October 2022: Trump cheers Musk's Twitter deal but says he won't return Following Musk's official buyout of Twitter on Thursday, Trump posted to Truth Social, cheering the deal. "I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs that truly hate our country," he said. He added that he likes Truth Social better than other platforms, echoing comments from earlier this year in which he ruled out a return to Twitter. On Monday, Musk joked about the potential of welcoming the former president back to his newly acquired platform. "If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Trump is coming back on this platform, Twitter would be minting money!," the Tesla CEO tweeted. May 2023: Musk hosts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' glitchy debut Musk and other right-leaning voices in Silicon Valley initially supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis ended 2022 as Trump's best-positioned primary challenger. In November 2022, as DeSantis was skyrocketing to acclaim, Musk said he would endorse him. In March 2023, after enduring Trump's attacks for months, DeSantis prepared to make history by formally announcing his campaign in an interview on Twitter. The initial few minutes were a glitchy disaster. Trump and his allies ruthlessly mocked DeSantis' "Space" with Musk and venture capitalist David Sachs. DeSantis' interview later proceeded, but his campaign was dogged for days with negative headlines. September 2023: A Trump-style border wall is needed, Musk says Musk live-streamed a visit to the US-Mexico border on Twitter, which he had rebranded as "X." Musk said that one of Trump's signature policies was necessary during his visit to Eagle Pass, Texas, to get a first-person look at what local officials called a crisis at the border. "We actually do need a wall and we need to require people to have some shred of evidence to claim asylum to enter, as everyone is doing that," Musk wrote on X. "It's a hack that you can literally Google to know exactly what to say! Will find out more when I visit Eagle Pass maybe as soon as tomorrow." Like Trump and others on the right, Musk had criticized the broader consensus in Washington for focusing too much on Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine in comparison to domestic issues like migration. March 2024: Trump tries to woo Musk, but the billionaire says he won't give him money. Trump tried to woo Musk during a meeting at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort. According to The New York Times, Trump met with Musk and a few other GOP megadonors when the former president's campaign was particularly cash-strapped. After the Times published its report, Musk said he would not be "donating money to either candidate for US President." It wasn't clear who Musk meant in terms of the second candidate. He had repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden, who looked poised to be headed toward a rematch with Trump. July 2024: Musk endorses Trump after the former president is shot Musk said he " fully endorsed" Trump after the former president was shot during a political rally ahead of the Republican National Convention. The billionaire's endorsement marked a major turning point in his yearslong political evolution from an Obama voter. Days later, it would come to light that Musk pressed Trump to select Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate. Trump announced Vance as his vice presidential pick at the Republican National Convention. The ticket, Musk wrote on X, "resounds with victory." It wasn't just his public support that Musk was offering. In July, The Wall Street Journal reported Musk had pledged roughly $45 million to support a pro-Trump super PAC. Musk later said he would donate far less, but his rebranding into a loyal member of the MAGA right was complete. Trump, who ended the Republican National Convention primed for victory, stumbled after Biden abruptly dropped out of the 2024 race. The former president and his allies have struggled to attack Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee. Amid Harris' early media blitz, Trump joined Musk on a two-hour livestream on X that garnered an audience of over 1 million listeners. The conversation covered topics ranging from a retelling of Trump's assassination attempt to illegal immigration to Musk's potential role with a government efficiency commission. In August, Trump began floating the idea that he " certainly would" consider adding Musk to his Cabinet or an advisory role. The Tesla CEO responded by tweeting an AI-generated photo of himself on a podium emblazoned with the acronym "D.O.G.E"—Department of Government Efficiency. "I am willing to serve," he wrote above the image. September 2024: Musk says he's ready to serve if Trump gives him an advisory role In September, Trump softened the suggestion of Musk joining his Cabinet due to his time constraints with running his various business ventures, the Washington Post reported. However, he also said that Musk could "consult with the country" and help give "some very good ideas." expressing his enthusiasm. "I can't wait. There is a lot of waste and needless regulation in government that needs to go," he wrote. He later said on X that he "looked forward to serving" the country and would be willing to do with without any pay, title, or recognition. October 2024: Musk speaks at Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania Musk joined Trump onstage during the former president's rally, hosted on October 5 in the same location where Trump survived an assassination attempt in July. Musk sported an all-black "Make America Great Again" cap and briefly addressed the crowd, saying that voter turnout for Trump this year was essential or "this will be the last election." "President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution," Musk said. "He must win to preserve democracy in America." The next day, Musk's America PAC announced that it would offer $47 to each person who refers registered voters residing in swing states to sign a petition "in support for the First and Second Amendments." By October, the PAC had reportedly already spent over $80 million on the election, with over $8.2 million spread across 18 competitive House races for the GOP. The Tesla CEO later told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that he might face "vengeance" if Trump loses the election. November 2024: Trump wins the presidency and names Musk his administration Musk was by Trump's side on election night at Mar-a-Lago, helping celebrate his victory. Nearly a week after his 2024 presidential election win, Trump announced that Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy were chosen to lead a newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE, as Musk likes to call it, in reference to the meme-inspired cryptocurrency Dogecoin). "Together, these two wonderful Americans will pay the way for my Administration to dismantle the Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies," Trump said in a statement. It's unclear whether the department will formally exist within the government, though Trump said the office would "provide advice and guidance from outside of Government" and work directly with the White House and Office of Management & Budget. Musk responded in a post on X that the Department of Government Efficiency will be post all their actions online "for maximum transparency." "Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know!" Musk wrote. "We will also have a leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your dollars. This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining." Outside of administrative duties, Musk has also attended "almost every meeting and many meals that Mr. Trump has had," the New York Times reported, acting as a partial advisor and confidant. The Tesla CEO also reportedly joined Trump's calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while both men were at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago club, where Musk seems to have settled in. "Elon won't go home," Trump told NBC News jokingly. "I can't get rid of him." The two's close relationship has extended to a more personal friendship. Musk was seen attending Trump's Thanksgiving dinner and on the golf course with Trump and his grandchildren, where Kai Trump said he achieved "uncle status." December 2024: Trump reaffirms he will be the next President, not Musk While Musk and Trump are both big personalities, the President-elect made it clear that he'll be the one running the country. President-elect Donald Trump dismissed the notion that he "ceded the presidency" to Musk and said that even if the billionaire wanted to be president, he couldn't because he was born in South Africa. Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know "No, he's not going to be president, that I can tell you," Trump said at Turning Point USA's annual "AmericaFest" in December. "And I'm safe. You know why? He can't be? He wasn't born in this country." Trump's comments came after Musk flexed his influence to help shut down a bipartisan emergency spending bill earlier that month. Some Republicans questioned why Trump hadn't been more active in derailing the bill, and Democrats baited the President-elect on social media with posts about Musk "calling the shots" and taking on the role of a "shadow president. Prior to Trump addressing the subject, Trump's team also looked to shut down the idea that Musk is leading the Republican Party. "As soon as President Trump released his official stance on the CR, Republicans on Capitol Hill echoed his point of view," Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, told BI. "President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop." January 2025: Musk and fellow billionaires celebrate Trump's inauguration Trump was sworn into office on January 20. Several tech leaders were in attendance, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, and Google's Sundar Pichai. The "first buddy" was also front and center for Trump's inauguration. Musk took the stage to celebrate at an inauguration event at the Capital One Arena, where he sparked accusations over a gesture he made that some said resembled a Nazi salute. Musk denied the allegations. "Hopefully, people realize I'm not a Nazi. Just to be clear, I'm not a Nazi," he said during an interview with Joe Rogan. February 2025: The White House says Musk isn't running DOGE Though Musk has been the face of the DOGE effort, White House court filings said he has "no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself." In the filing, Musk is described as a senior advisor to Trump with "no greater authority than other senior White House advisors." Officials have also called him a "special government employee." Trump told reporters they can call Musk "whatever you want." "Elon is to me a patriot," Trump said in February. "You could call him an employee, you could call him a consultant, you could call him whatever you want." Later that month, a White House official told BI that Amy Gleason, who previously worked for US Digital Service, is the acting DOGE administrator. March 2025: Trump buys a Tesla and calls out protesters Despite court filings and White House officials stating otherwise, Trump told Congress that Musk is the leader of the DOGE office. "I have created the brand-new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, perhaps you've heard of it, which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight," Trump said during his speech on March 4. Those questioning the constitutionality of DOGE were quick to respond by letting a federal judge know about their claims that Musk is in charge. Meanwhile, calls for a Tesla boycott are growing as Musk becomes more involved in Trump's presidency. Protests, boycotts, and vandalism at Tesla dealerships across the US have spread since the beginning of 2025. Trump stepped in to defend Musk's electric car company on Tuesday, with Teslas on the South Lawn of the White House. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that he'd purchase a car to show support amid the public outcry. "The Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World's great automakers, and Elon's 'baby,' in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for," the president wrote. April 2025: Musk announces he's stepping back from DOGE Three months into DOGE's mission to reshape the federal workforce, Musk announced that he would be stepping back from the effort. He broke the news during an underwhelming Tesla earnings call, where earnings per share were down 71% year over year. "Starting next month, I will be allocating far more of my time to Tesla," Musk said during the call. He added that "the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency" had been completed. At the time, Musk said he would keep spending one or two days each week on governmental duties, so long as Trump wanted him to do so. May 2025: Musk says he'll be spending less on politics, criticizes the Republican agenda, and announces he's leaving government for good By May, Musk started to step back from his political activity overall. During an interview at the Qatar Economic Forum, he said he thinks he's "done enough" in terms of political contributions. "In terms of political spending, I'm going to do a lot less in the future," he said, adding that he didn't "currently see a reason" to pour money into politics. Previously, Musk had said his super PAC would contribute to 2026 midterm efforts. A few days later, Musk told a reporter that he "probably did spend a bit too much time on politics," and that he'd "reduced that significantly in recent weeks." Musk took a decidedly more critical tone when it came to the overall Republican agenda. He said in an interview with CBS in late May that he wasn't pleased with Trump and House Republicans' "big beautiful" spending bill. "I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing," Musk said. And then, on May 28, Musk cut ties with DOGE and the Trump administration. The White House confirmed that it had started Musk's off-boarding process. "As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending," Musk wrote in a post on X. "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Under federal law, special government employees can't serve for more than 130 days a year. Musk left the administration 128 days after the inauguration. June 2025: Musk sharply criticizes Trump's spending bill, calls the president ungrateful Days after stepping away from his job in the White House, Musk delivered his harshest criticism yet of the GOP spending bill. "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk wrote on X on June 3. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it." Some congressional Republicans, including Sens. Rand Paul and Mike Lee, posted that they agreed with Musk. Meanwhile, Trump has consistently defended the bill on Truth Social, including just hours before Musk's critical post on X. In an interview with CBS News that aired June 1, Musk said, "I'm a little stuck in a bind where I'm like, well, I don't want to speak up against the administration, but I also don't want to take responsibility for everything the administration's doing." On June 5, Musk doubled down on his criticisms. He dug up a tweet from 2013 in which Trump said, "I cannot believe the Republicans are extending the debt ceiling—I am a Republican & I am embarrassed!" Musk quote-tweeted it with the message, "Wise words," taking a dig at Trump's very different stance on the debt ceiling today. The same day, Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, said, "Elon and I had a great relationship," but he wasn't sure if it would continue. The president said Musk was criticizing his bill because of the phase-out of the electric vehicle tax credit, which would likely have repercussions for Musk's Tesla. Musk shot back within minutes on X, saying that while he thought the EV phase-out was unfair, what he really took issue with was the "MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill." Trump also said Musk was airing his grievances because he "missed" being in the White House. "I'll be honest, I think he misses the place. I think he got out there and all of a sudden, he wasn't in this beautiful Oval Office," Trump said. The president escalated the attacks when he threatened to terminate the federal contracts that Musk's companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, rely on. Musk, meanwhile, continued to respond on X, writing, "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate." "Such ingratitude," he added.