Elon Musk abruptly exits Trump administration after tax bill criticism
In a move that surprised many within Washington and beyond, U.S. billionaire and tech mogul Elon Musk announced his departure from President Donald Trump’s administration late Wednesday night, May 28, just months after his high-profile appointment.
Musk, who was appointed in November 2024 as a senior advisor and head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced his exit in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He stated that his term as a Special Government Employee had come to an end, while also taking a parting shot at government inefficiency.
“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. “@DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
His departure comes just hours after he publicly criticized Trump’s newly proposed tax bill, suggesting ideological or policy tensions may have hastened the exit. However, Musk did not mention the tax dispute in his statement.
According to a Reuters report, Musk left the administration without any formal conversation with Trump, a detail that has fueled speculation about a potential falling-out between the two high-profile figures.
Musk’s role at DOGE, an acronym both for “Department of Government Efficiency” and a likely nod to his long-running involvement with Dogecoin, was widely seen as a bold and unconventional experiment in streamlining federal bureaucracy. While his tenure was brief, it drew both praise for innovation and criticism for lack of measurable impact.
The White House has yet to release an official statement regarding Musk’s exit.
Political analysts say Musk’s resignation—especially without a proper send-off—may signal deeper fractures within the Trump 2024 administration as it approaches a turbulent election cycle, complicated by growing economic and legislative scrutiny.
Musk, known for his polarizing presence on social media and in policy circles, has not indicated any further political ambitions following his departure.
