On Wednesday, Elon Musk officially closed a surreal chapter in his already unconventional career. After just over three turbulent months in Washington, Musk announced his departure from both the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Donald Trump’s $TRUMP Cabinet. For investors and policy watchers alike, this signals a major realignment of Musk’s focus—back to Tesla, and away from federal reform.
A Musk-Style Exit, Straight from the White House
True to form, Musk delivered the news in person during an April 30 Cabinet meeting at the White House. “It’s been an honor to work with your incredible Cabinet,” he said, addressing Trump and his team. “Thank you to everyone—it was an honor.”
He didn’t leave without a touch of bravado, either. Musk hailed Trump’s first 100 days as “record-breaking”—a classic Musk exaggeration, but consistent with his flair for the dramatic.
Signs of Departure Were Already There
This move wasn’t entirely unexpected. During Tesla’s latest earnings call, Musk had hinted at scaling back his involvement in government work, saying he’d only devote “a day or two per week” to DOGE going forward. That was the first public sign that his Washington adventure was winding down.
DOGE Savings vs. Reality
While Musk touted DOGE as a success—claiming it saved the federal government $160 billion—the results fell short of his original promise to cut $2 trillion in wasteful spending. Trump, during the meeting, quoted $150 billion in savings, but Musk corrected him with a smirk: “$160 billion—but who’s counting?”
However, not all data supported the rosy narrative. The New York Times reported that DOGE-related disruptions (like mass layoffs, rehiring delays, and bureaucratic slowdowns) might cost the government $135 billion in productivity losses this year alone.
Musk’s departure from the West Wing has already occurred, according to the New York Post, although his team remains operational nearby at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
A Politically Charged Farewell
Despite the mixed results, Trump publicly thanked Musk, commending him for his efforts and sacrifice. “You’ve been treated very unfairly,” he said, referencing criticism Musk has faced in recent months. Musk responded with a jab at his critics: “They like to burn my cars, which is not great,” alluding to acts of vandalism targeting Tesla.
Trump made it clear that Musk still had his support: “You’re invited to stay as long as you want,” he said, drawing applause from the room.
Returning to Tesla — and to Tech Leadership
Now, with his political detour ending, Musk is turning his full attention back to Tesla. “The heavy lifting [in DOGE] is done,” he said. “Starting next month, I’ll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla.”
A printed summary of DOGE’s performance was handed to Trump during the Cabinet session, a quiet bookend to what was one of the strangest and most talked-about experiments in Musk’s career.
What This Means for Crypto and the Market
Musk’s pivot could have ripple effects across crypto markets. While Dogecoin ($DOGE) saw brief momentum from his federal ties, its future performance may now depend more on investor sentiment than presidential proximity. Meanwhile, Trump Coin ($TRUMP) continues to trade around $13.18, up 1.07%, likely buoyed by the attention and Cabinet buzz.
As Musk returns to the world of electric vehicles, AI, and space exploration, one thing is certain: whether he’s in government or out of it, Elon Musk never exits quietly.