The honeymoon phase in Mar-a-Lago was always going to have an expiration date. Honestly, if you’ve been watching the revolving door of the West Wing for the last decade, the latest buzz shouldn't come as a massive shock. Reports have started swirling that Donald Trump tells inner circle that musk will leave soon, signaling a major shift in the "bromance" that defined the early days of his return to power.
It’s a wild dynamic.
For a while there, you couldn't separate the two. Elon was everywhere—the Oval Office, cabinet meetings, even ringside at wrestling matches. But the friction between a billionaire who likes to be the boss and a President who is the boss was bound to spark some heat. While the public-facing narrative was all about "efficiency" and "slashing the deficit," the private conversations inside the administration suggest the exit ramps are already being built.
Why the "Efficiency" Drive is Hitting a Wall
The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE as the internet loves to call it, was built on a 130-day mandate. That’s a ticking clock. Elon Musk took on the role of a "special government employee," which is basically a legal loophole that lets him work for the government without having to sell his companies or jump through the usual ethics hoops. But that status has a shelf life.
Insiders say the tension really started to cook over the "Big Beautiful Bill." That’s Trump’s massive spending and tax package. Musk, ever the disruptor, didn't hold back. He called it a "disgusting abomination" on X, complaining about pork-barrel spending and the rising deficit.
Trump didn't take it well.
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The President allegedly told his cabinet and close advisors that Musk was "wearing thin." It’s the classic Trump arc: you’re a genius until you disagree with the boss’s signature legislation. When Musk started tweeting about how the bill would "bankrupt America," the vibe in the West Wing shifted from "collaborative" to "combative" pretty much overnight.
The Conflict of Interest Problem
Let's talk about the Tesla of it all. Tesla investors have been a nervous wreck. They’ve watched their CEO spend more time in D.C. than in Austin or Fremont. In early 2025, Tesla’s delivery numbers took a hit, and the stock started sliding. It’s no secret that Musk’s board of directors wants him back at the helm of his actual companies.
- Tesla (TSLA): Shareholders are worried about brand damage from political polarization.
- SpaceX: Dependency on government contracts makes the feud with Trump risky.
- X (formerly Twitter): The platform has become the primary battlefield for their public spats.
There is also the matter of the "EV Mandate." Trump has been vocal about wanting to roll back subsidies for electric vehicles. For Musk, that’s a direct hit to the bottom line, even if he claims he’s fine with a level playing field. Trump’s take? He thinks Elon went "crazy" because the administration wouldn't protect those specific incentives.
What Trump Really Said to His Inner Circle
According to reports from Politico and various administration insiders, Trump has been much more blunt behind closed doors than he is in front of a microphone. He reportedly told a group of advisors that Musk would be "stepping back in the coming weeks."
It wasn't a firing, per se. It was more of a "he’s got a big company to run, and he’s done what he could here" type of dismissal.
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But then there was the dinner.
Fast forward to January 2026, and the two were spotted dining together at Mar-a-Lago. Musk posted a photo of himself with the President and First Lady, captioning it with a hopeful note about 2026 being "amazing." This "on-again, off-again" energy is exhausting for staffers. One day they’re fighting over spending bills; the next, they’re discussing how to restore internet access in Iran using Starlink.
The reality is that Musk is likely transitioning into an "informal advisor" role. This allows him to keep his influence without the baggage of being a government official. It also saves face for Trump, who gets to keep a direct line to the world’s richest man without having to deal with his "unpredictability" in formal cabinet meetings.
The Fallout of the DOGE Experiment
What did they actually achieve? Musk initially promised to cut $2 trillion from federal spending. That number eventually got walked down to $1 trillion, then $150 billion. D.C. is a swamp for a reason—it’s hard to drain. The bureaucracy fought back.
Republican lawmakers started feeling the heat from their own constituents when Musk’s "efficiency" meant cutting jobs in their home districts. Lawsuits piled up. By the time Trump tells inner circle that musk will leave soon, the grand experiment of running the government like a startup had hit the reality of constitutional law and Congressional gridlock.
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Key Points of Friction:
- Staffing: Musk wanted to fire thousands of "unnecessary" workers; civil service protections made that a legal nightmare.
- Spending: The administration’s tax cuts and spending bills actually increased the deficit, contradicting Musk’s core mission.
- Credit: Both men have massive egos. When Musk claimed credit for Trump’s election win, saying the President would have lost without him, it was essentially the kiss of death for their working relationship.
Trump’s response to that was classic: he told reporters he would have won Pennsylvania even without Musk’s help. It’s a battle of the narratives.
What Happens Next for Musk and Trump?
Expect a lot of "back and forth." Musk isn't going to vanish. He still has those massive SpaceX contracts to worry about, and Trump still wants the "cool factor" (and the donor money) that comes with the Musk association.
The "Department of Government Efficiency" will likely continue in some neutered form, perhaps led by someone less volatile. Musk will retreat to X and SpaceX, where he can complain about the government from the outside—a position he’s much more comfortable with.
If you’re looking for actionable insights from this political soap opera, keep an eye on Tesla (TSLA) stock. Historically, the stock has rallied on news of Musk "returning to his roots" and focusing on the business. For the broader political landscape, this exit marks the end of the "disruptor" phase of the second Trump term. The old guard—the career politicians and the traditional GOP donors—are moving back into the vacuum Musk leaves behind.
Watch the "Big Beautiful Bill" updates. The final version of that legislation will tell you exactly who won the policy war. If the EV credits are gone and the spending is high, you’ll know Musk’s influence has officially waned.
The relationship has matured from a frantic, 24/7 collaboration into a more traditional "billionaire-politician" alliance. It’s less "brothers in arms" and more "mutually assured benefit." Just don't be surprised if they’re feuding again by the 2026 midterms. That’s just how this cycle works.