A string of recent challenges has sparked doubts about Musk’s lasting sway in the Trump White House.
At the outset of Trump’s return to power, Elon Musk looked unstoppable.
He appeared in the Oval Office with one of his sons perched on his shoulders. He was rubbing elbows with global leaders. He was tearing through the U.S. Agency for International Development like a buzzsaw. He even shared a Fox News spotlight with President Trump.
But over the past few weeks, Musk—the administration’s most high-profile outside partner—has stumbled enough to raise eyebrows about just how much influence he really holds.
According to reporting from my colleagues, the acting head of the IRS is being replaced after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed back, frustrated that Musk had installed his own preferred candidate without Bessent’s approval.
Just days ago, Trump had tapped Musk’s pick, Gary Shapley, to lead the agency temporarily. But now, with Bessent’s urging, the president has apparently agreed to reverse course.
This is just the latest speed bump in what’s been a crash course in governing for Musk. He’s clashed with several Cabinet members for operating independently, and his efforts to revamp the Department of Government Efficiency have lagged behind expectations. After a leaked plan for a classified China briefing caused an uproar, Trump himself publicly criticized him.
Musk also suffered a visible political loss when he jumped into Wisconsin’s recent Supreme Court election. And although he’s publicly opposed Trump’s tariffs and the adviser behind them, he hasn’t managed to change the president’s mind.
As the setbacks add up, Musk’s once-dominant presence has noticeably diminished. At last week’s Cabinet meeting, his on-camera remarks were brief—far from the scene-stealing debut he made earlier this year. It’s been a while since his last major interview, too.
Even his posting on X has slowed. Kate Conger, who closely tracks his activity, noted that his firehose of posts—over 3,000 in March, averaging 107 per day—has tapered. So far in April, he’s averaging around 55 a day, and hasn’t crossed 100 in a single day all month.
Still, none of this means his anti-government crusade—or the ideology driving it—is losing steam. Behind closed doors, Musk has launched new efforts, including a “gold card” visa program aimed at wealthy foreigners. Just this week, his team gutted AmeriCorps, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau laid off a significant portion of its workforce—though a court has temporarily halted the cuts.
Musk’s status as a “special government employee” limits his official tenure to 130 days—unless he works part-time, which would let him stay longer.
Trump, sources say, has privately acknowledged Musk’s missteps. But he still speaks glowingly of the billionaire, praising his commitment despite Tesla’s recent challenges and controversies. At last week’s meeting, Trump lauded Musk before quickly moving the agenda forward. His conservative allies, like podcaster Joe Rogan, continue to cheer him on.
So no, Musk hasn’t had a flawless run. And no, he won’t win every fight. But a man who’s clearly enjoyed playing a starring role in this administration is unlikely to exit the stage quietly.
