President Trump has given Elon Musk the huge task of looking through the federal government to find waste and inefficiencies. But Musk’s first, often messy moves into different departments have raised concerns and put the tech entrepreneur at the center of the conservative movement. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a tech visionary, once supported clean energy and stayed out of politics for most of his career.
So, how did he end up working with President Donald Trump to make big cuts to the federal government?
The league table of which departments in the US government have made the most or least progress with efficiency https://t.co/XoY97G12po
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2025
Higgins wrote a book about Musk and Tesla called “Power Play.” He points out Musk’s constant drive to show the world wrong, a mindset from years of being told his big goals were impossible. Kate Conger from The New York Times said, “Musk usually thinks in terms of missions for himself, often aimed at making a big impact on humanity.
Conger, who reports on Musk for The New York Times and co-wrote “Character Limit” about Musk’s takeover of Twitter (now called X), notes Musk’s habit of seeing his projects as chances to protect and save different parts of human life.
The White House says unelected billionaire Elon Musk will attend Trump's first meeting of his Cabinet.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 25, 2025
Tim Higgins from The Wall Street Journal said, “It’s very rare to see a business leader staying in the White House trying to change government spending and rules like Elon Musk is doing.
In his work with the Trump administration, Musk sees a mission to save America and democracy. Musk grew up in a rich family in South Africa in the 1970s during apartheid. He had a tough childhood with autism, bullying, and a reportedly mean father.
The Trump admin has told federal agency leaders that they can ignore the public decree from Elon Musk to effectively fire employees who do not send in bullet-point summaries of their work last week — the first serious break between Trump and Musk. https://t.co/94W2uwVQLC
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 25, 2025
In his work with the Trump administration, Musk sees a mission to save America and democracy. Musk grew up in a wealthy family in South Africa in the 1970s during apartheid. He had a tough childhood with autism, bullying, and a reportedly mean father.
Walter Isaacson, an author, said, “Those childhood struggles drive his world-changing successes, like sending astronauts to space or leading the electric car era. But they also make him a dark, unpredictable person.”
After coming to the U.S. for college, Musk made web products, including an online bank, which made him his first fortune. He then focused on electric cars and space, starting SpaceX in 2002 and becoming a key NASA partner.
Musk’s messy government restructuring efforts
Musk invested in Tesla, a new electric car company, and later became its CEO, making it the world’s most valuable car company. Musk’s companies include Starlink, a satellite internet provider with big U.S. government contracts.
Even with his success and power, Musk mostly avoided politics until recently. He called himself “socially liberal and fiscally conservative.”
During Trump’s first term, Musk quit a presidential advisory board to protest Trump’s departure from the Paris climate deal. However, during the pandemic, Musk’s politics shifted to the right.
He strongly opposed lockdowns affecting his Tesla factories in California. Kate Conger said, “He was also dealing with personal life changes, including his child’s gender transition, which he often blamed on so-called ‘woke ideology.'”
In 2021, Musk was left out of a Biden administration electric car event due to Tesla’s anti-union stance, which sped up his political change. Over time, Musk posted more on Twitter, sharing controversial messages and memes.
He eventually bought Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, hoping to make a digital town square but making budget cuts similar to his actions in Washington. William Brangham said, “Musk’s messy approach at Twitter included budget slashing, layoffs, and policy changes on hate speech, which led to a decline in the platform’s value.
Meanwhile, there are growing worries about Musk’s mental health and drug use. Despite these issues, Musk kept getting more involved in politics, supporting Republican candidates and sharing extreme views, including backing the Great Replacement Theory and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Elon Musk’s path from a tech visionary to a divisive political figure shows a complex mix of personal ambition, changing beliefs, and a constant drive to challenge the norm.
Image Credits: Photo by Vladimir Solomianyi on Unsplash
Johannah Lopez is a versatile professional who seamlessly navigates two worlds. By day, she excels as a SaaS freelance writer, crafting informative and persuasive content for tech companies. By night, she showcases her vibrant personality and customer service skills as a part-time bartender. Johannah's ability to blend her writing expertise with her social finesse makes her a well-rounded and engaging storyteller in any setting.
