Trump Prepares for Musk’s Exit as Political Liability Concerns Mount

Elon Musk’s time as a central figure in the Trump administration appears to be winding down, as insiders indicate the billionaire will soon transition to a more informal advisory role. This shift comes as some within Trump’s circle increasingly view Musk as unpredictable and potentially damaging politically – concerns highlighted by Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court race where a Musk-backed conservative judge lost by 10 points.

The expected transition will likely coincide with the expiration of Musk’s “special government employee” status, which temporarily exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest rules. This 130-day period is set to end in late May or early June, though sources indicate Musk will maintain some informal influence with the president.

Supporters within the administration believe the timing is appropriate, suggesting Musk has accomplished much of what he set out to do with government cost-cutting. However, numerous Trump allies have expressed frustration with Musk’s communication style, noting he frequently bypasses Cabinet secretaries and the White House chain of command led by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

“There’s a lack of understanding about communications and why it’s important, that you massage things, that you talk about things, that you qualify things — they just don’t do it,” said one Trump ally.

Publicly, Trump has shown nothing but admiration for Musk, who invested millions to support his election. During a March Cabinet meeting, Trump praised Musk while hinting at his eventual departure: “Elon, I want to thank you — I know you’ve been through a lot,” Trump said, calling him “a patriot” and “a friend of mine.”

Musk himself acknowledged the transition when asked by Fox News’ Bret Baier about his plans after his special status expires: “I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion within that time frame.”

The relationship between the two wealthy businessmen has experienced significant ups and downs. Musk’s independent actions have sometimes created challenges for the administration, including single-handedly disrupting Speaker Mike Johnson’s pre-Christmas spending deal with Democrats and making controversial public statements about Social Security that contradicted Trump’s promises.

Despite these challenges, many insiders believe Musk has served as a political “heat shield” for Trump, absorbing criticism for controversial policies that might otherwise damage the president. As one longtime adviser bluntly put it: “Let someone else scoop up the dog shit — the DOGE shit in this case.”

However, as evidenced by recent election results, this strategy may have limits. “Elon’s taking a lot of bullets for Trump — a lot — and Trump knows that and sees that,” said another Trump ally. “But if it starts to rub off on him, that’s when the honeymoon ends…. That’s starting to happen.”

While White House spokesperson Harrison Fields reiterated that “this White House would love to keep Elon around for as long as possible,” and press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Musk “will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete,” many close to Trump appear relieved that the unpredictable chapter may be ending.

Despite their complicated relationship, insiders maintain that Trump genuinely values Musk and will likely continue to seek his counsel, if not his daily presence in the administration.