Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is set to step back from his advisory role within the Trump administration, according to reports from Politico.
US President Donald Trump is said to have informed close aides that Musk will return his attention to his business ventures in the coming weeks, having overseen what has been described as an “unprecedented programme” of government cost-cutting during his time advising the White House.
Despite recent speculation about tensions behind the scenes, Trump is understood to remain satisfied with Musk’s contributions, crediting the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive with helping to drive significant budgetary efficiencies.
However, Politico reports growing concern among senior officials that Musk, 53, had begun to overstep his advisory remit, leading to his influence becoming more of a liability than an asset.
While no formal statement has yet been made by either Musk or the White House, sources suggest the transition has been agreed internally, allowing Musk to refocus on his portfolio of technology and infrastructure ventures — including Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and xAI.
The move marks a shift in Musk’s recent visibility in Washington, where he had become a high-profile voice in discussions around federal spending, regulation, and public sector innovation.
Industry watchers will now be paying close attention to how the tech mogul balances his ongoing business ambitions with his evident interest in influencing policy — particularly as the 2024 US election cycle gathers momentum.
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Elon Musk to scale back White House advisory role and refocus on business interests