Trump Downplays Musk’s Role, Cites Demands‍ of Tesla, SpaceX

WASHINGTON (AP) — While tech entrepreneur Elon Musk indicated he would dedicate a few days each week to assisting President Donald ⁢Trump, the president appeared to‍ signal an ‍end to their collaboration. “He was an enormous help,”‍ Trump stated Wednesday at the white ⁤House, responding to a reporter’s inquiry about Musk’s involvement.

Musk had stated Tuesday his intention to focus⁢ more on leading Tesla, the ⁣electric car manufacturer. He also‍ expressed a willingness to advise⁣ Trump one to two days per week, contingent on the president’s desire.

“We Have to let Him Go”

Musk ⁤became an ally of Trump last year, reportedly donating over $250 million to the president’s election campaign. As president, trump tasked Musk with identifying areas to reduce government spending. However, Musk’s political activities and outspoken stances have drawn criticism, possibly impacting Tesla’s⁣ reputation.

Trump⁣ acknowledged Musk’s contributions during the election and his efforts to cut costs. He described Musk as a friend and expressed a⁤ desire to “keep him for a long time.”‍ However,Trump also noted Musk’s commitments to his various ventures,including Tesla,SpaceX,and medical technology companies. “And we have to let him go at a certain point so that he can take care of it,” Trump said.He anticipated this transition would occur “roughly at this point” but added, “But I’ll talk to Elon about it.”

Musk’s Influence in⁢ Washington ‍Wanes

Musk was a frequent presence alongside Trump early⁢ in the president’s term. Though, sources indicate his influence⁤ within the ⁢management has diminished ⁣in recent weeks. One instance cited was a judicial election in ⁤Wisconsin, where musk’s support for a Republican candidate proved unsuccessful.

Additionally, media outlets reported the⁢ swift departure of ⁤an acting head of the IRS tax authority, allegedly favored by Musk. According to these reports, Treasury Secretary scott Bessent was displeased that Musk had bypassed him to ⁣advocate for the appointment directly with Trump. The website Axios reported a heated argument between Musk and Bessent at the White House the ‍previous week, requiring⁣ intervention by ⁤a staff member. White House spokeswoman ⁤Karoline Leavitt did not comment on the specifics of the report.

“I’m Not the⁤ president”

Musk acknowledged Tuesday his inability to sway Trump on the issue of tariffs. He characterized himself as one of many advisors, stating, “I am not the president.” He emphasized that Trump ultimately makes the decisions. “I hope that the president will observe whether my predictions were more correct than the predictions of others – and maybe my advice will be attached to a different weight in the future,” Musk said.