On the ever-changing political stage of the United States, the once prominent 'White House favorite' Elon Musk is facing the most severe turning point in his career. On April 30, a dramatic moment in the White House cabinet meeting unveiled a glimpse of Musk's struggles in the dual dilemmas of politics and business.
1. The 'Farewell Ceremony' at the Cabinet Meeting Trump's sudden warm-hearted speech, on the surface, appears to support Musk, but it hides deeper meanings. 'You have been treated unfairly, but the vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you.' This heartfelt statement, coupled with the scene of ministers applauding collectively, feels more like a carefully designed 'farewell ceremony.' Trump's subsequent slightly teasing 'homecoming theory' seems casual but suggests Musk's quiet exit from his government role. Since taking charge of the 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE) in January, Musk has attempted to replicate his business success in government reform with his decisive actions. However, the differences in logic between politics and business quickly plunged him into a quagmire.
2. The Chain Reaction Triggered by Radical Reforms The DOGE reforms led by Musk can be described as 'thunderous measures,' laying off 120,000 federal employees within three months, terminating thousands of government contracts, and claiming to save $160 billion. However, this 'shock therapy' caused strong tremors within the government system: layoffs in the Department of Agriculture nearly paralyzed the avian flu prevention system, layoffs in the Department of Energy jeopardized nuclear safety, and military spending actually increased after layoffs in the Department of Defense. These disruptions not only threw public services into chaos but also triggered 103 lawsuits nationwide. Federal judges have repeatedly restricted DOGE from accessing sensitive data, putting the brakes on the reform. Within the White House, tensions between Musk and his cabinet colleagues have escalated. Intense arguments with Secretary of State Rubio, Treasury Secretary Besant, and others even nearly escalated into physical confrontations, exposing his incongruity within the political ecosystem. Accusations from the Democratic camp of 'using power for personal gain' further complicated his position on the political stage.
3. The Trust Crisis of the Business Empire The political turmoil directly rebounds onto Musk's business empire. Tesla's first-quarter financial report is described as 'heart-wrenching': revenue has decreased by 9% year-on-year, net profit has plummeted by 71%, and stock prices have shrunk by nearly 30% since the beginning of the year. Investors are extremely dissatisfied with Musk's distraction by government affairs, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Tesla's board has secretly contacted headhunters to find a successor, although this has been urgently denied by the chairman, the market's trust in Musk has already shown cracks. According to the Hurun Report, Musk's wealth has plummeted from 3.07 trillion yuan at the beginning of the year to 2.3 trillion yuan, evaporating nearly 800 billion yuan. Public negative evaluations of him continue to rise, with polls showing that 57% of Americans do not approve of his government work. Tesla stores have even been vandalized by protesters, owners' information has been publicly threatened, and the commercial image has suffered significant damage.
4. The Difficult Choice of Being Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place As a 'special government employee,' Musk's term is set to end by the end of May at the latest. He is no longer residing in the White House and has switched to remote work. To save Tesla, Musk announced a significant reduction in government work hours, reserving only 1-2 days a week for administrative tasks, and launched a '5-year 0-interest' car purchase policy to stimulate sales. However, the market remains skeptical about whether these measures can turn the situation around.
Although Trump publicly supports Musk, he also hints that DOGE may 'come to an end at some point.' Analysts believe Trump is considering cabinet adjustments, trying to ease tensions with Musk by replacing key positions. After leaving the White House, Musk can focus more on Tesla's autonomous driving technology and the SpaceX Starship project, but rebuilding investor confidence and repairing his damaged public image remain significant challenges ahead.
From business genius to political quagmire, Musk's experience reflects the numerous risks of cross-sector operations. Finding a balance on the scale of politics and business will determine the future direction of this legendary entrepreneur. The final outcome of this game not only relates to Musk's personal career landscape but will also have a profound impact on the political and economic landscape of the United States.
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