Elon Musk Steps Back from Politics, Refocuses on Tesla’s Future

Tonight, in a surprising but perhaps overdue pivot, Elon Musk is turning his attention away from the political spotlight and returning to the core of what made him a household name—innovative technology and electric vehicles.

In an interview with CNBC’s David Favor at an event promoting Tesla’s highly anticipated robo-taxis, Musk signaled that his days of political involvement and campaign contributions are coming to an end.

“In terms of political spending,” Musk said plainly, “I’m going to do a lot less in the future.”

This declaration marks a significant shift for the world’s richest man, who in recent years has frequently made headlines not only for technological advancements but also for his controversial role in the Trump administration and political donations. Having recently stepped down from his advisory position with the former president’s team, Musk insists he does not regret the experience—but acknowledges its mixed legacy.

When asked if his government service had damaged the Tesla brand, Musk admitted:

“There have been some pros and cons.”

He also addressed a lingering controversy from Trump’s inauguration, where he was accused of making a “Nazi” hand gesture. Musk firmly denied any such intentions, stating the gesture was misinterpreted.

“All I said was ‘my heart goes out to you’—and I was talking about space travel,” he clarified, frustrated by what he views as unfair attacks from mainstream media.

At one point unofficially dubbed the “head of the Department of Government Efficiency,” or “DOGE,” Musk had taken it upon himself to champion major federal budget cuts. His aggressive push to eliminate waste in government spending drew intense backlash, igniting protests and boycotts across the country.

“We are advisers,” he reminded the public. “We’re not kings here.”

 

However, the consequences were not limited to politics. Tesla’s bottom line took a serious hit. The company’s profits plunged 71% in the first quarter, a staggering drop that Musk attributes largely to a recent retooling of Tesla factories rather than public backlash. Despite the financial turbulence, Musk remained optimistic:

“We’ve seen a major rebound in demand,” he claimed, without offering specific figures. “When you buy a product, how much do you care about the political views of the CEO? Or do you even know what they are?”

With his political experiments now in the rearview mirror, Musk is eager to get back to what he does best: building the future.

“My rough plan for the White House is to be there a couple days every few weeks,” he joked, hinting at a reduced presence in Washington. “To be helpful where I can be helpful.”

As for what’s next at Tesla? Musk is betting big—again—on self-driving technology. He claims the company is closer than ever to delivering fully autonomous vehicles and suggests other automakers are in talks to license Tesla’s cutting-edge self-driving systems.

“This next level tech is going to be ready in about a year,” Musk predicted.

Skeptics, however, may be quick to note that similar promises have been made since 2016.

Still, tonight marks a shift. Elon Musk is leaving the campaign trail behind and returning to the garage—from which he may once again drive the future.