‘Liability’: Elon Musk set to leave White House ‘in coming weeks’

Reports have emerged that Donald Trump has told Elon Musk his time in his inner circle is up amid disquiet at his “unpredictable” actions.

Donald Trump is set to ditch “liability” Elon Musk from his inner circle “in the coming weeks”.

The shafting, reports of which emerged in US media overnight, come after a Republican-backed candidate the billionaire furiously campaigned for in a state election lost to a liberal rival – vividly illustrating the limits of the Tesla CEO’s influence.

According to US political media outlet Politico, Mr Musk’s departure from the White House would likely coincide with the end of his 130-day period as a “special government employee” at the Department of Government Efficiency – or DOGE – which isn’t actually a department.

In February, Mr Musk told a conference he expected to be in the role for four months, which is around 130 days.

The New York Post separately cited sources saying Mr Musk would leave.

Elon Musk is set to finish up as a ‘special government employee’ in the coming weeks. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Three anonymous sources in the White House told Politico Mr Trump has now told his closest advisers, as well as the Cabinet, that Mr Musk will be “stepping back in the coming weeks from his current role”.

“Both men have decided in recent days that it will soon be time for Musk to return to his businesses and take on a supporting role,” three “Trump insiders” said, according to the publication.

The report stated that Mr Trump was not displeased with Mr Musk or his DOGE cost-cutting initiative. But there was a sense that “there was only so much he can cut” from government agencies, and that work was coming to an end.

There were also more fundamental issues at play, the insiders said – a keen “frustration” at Mr Musk’s “unpredictability”.

“(They) increasingly view the billionaire as a political liability.”

The White House ‘increasingly view the billionaire as a political liability’. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

Many in the MAGA movement are said to be uncomfortable with Mr Musk’s abrasive actions and seemingly central role in the Trump administration.

An example of that played out on Tuesday in Wisconsin, where conservative Judge Brad Schimel, who Mr Musk had thrown his support – and ample funds – behind, lost to liberal Judge Susan Crawford for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court.

Mr Musk campaigned in the state and gave away two cheques valued at $US1 million ($1.58m) each.

But it counted for little and there are concerns Mr Musk’s divisiveness may even have pushed voters towards the liberal judge.

Mr Musk’s intense campaigning did little to sway the election. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford. Picture: AP Photo/Kayla Wolf

Tesla’s sales have also slid in recent months.

For the first quarter, sales were down to 13 per cent. It’s difficult to cite the exact reasons – certainly Tesla is facing more competition. But the slide has coincided with Mr Musk’s White House role.

Some investors are keen for Mr Musk to decide between the White House and Tesla, and have said he simply doesn’t have the capacity to do both jobs.

Mr Musk’s role at DOGE was temporary for 130 days. That classifies him as a “special government employee” and allowed him to forgo some ethics and conflict of interest rules, Politico reported.

Mr Trump could keep him on for longer but it’s likely he would be forced to submit to greater scrutiny.

If Mr Musk leaves prior to early June, he and the White House can say it’s simply due to the imminent 130-day deadline and that the role was never permanent.

Mr Trump is expected to retain him in an informal, less hands on role.

Originally published as ‘Liability’: Elon Musk set to leave White House ‘in coming weeks’