Elon Musk steps down as advisor to President Trump: What the Tesla CEO actually did

Elon Musk has announced his resignation from his position as a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump. During his tenure, the tech entrepreneur made significant contributions to federal reforms aimed at streamlining government programmes.

Musk shared the news on Wednesday via X, the social media platform owned by him, expressing his appreciation towards President Trump as he concluded his advisory role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“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,” he wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

Discontent with Legislative Agenda

Musk's resignation follows his public expression of dissatisfaction with President Trump's major legislative package. Musk criticised the legislation for carrying financial repercussions, labelling it as a "massive spending bill" in an interview with CBS. He argued that the bill, which includes tax cuts and stricter immigration measures, exacerbates the federal deficit and undermines the efforts of the DOGE.

“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”

Trump Defends Legislation

The controversy comes after Musk's interview aired on Tuesday evening. In response, President Trump addressed the media from the Oval Office on Wednesday, defending the legislative agenda and emphasising the complexity of the negotiations involved. The President underscored the centrality of the bill to his administration's objectives, highlighting the political intricacies associated with the policy.

“I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said while hinting that more changes could be made.

“We’re going to see what happens,” he said. “It’s got a way to go.”