A number of advisers in the Trump administration are becoming increasingly irked by Elon Musk’s visits to the Oval Office, CNN political analyst and New York Times chief White House correspondent Maggie Haberman reports.
Her comments follow rumors that Musk’s position in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is set to end soon, but which have been denied by the Tesla CEO. The White House has clarified that Musk is not technically a member of DOGE, which has been behind mass layoffs and budget cuts.
There are advisers to Trump who are fed up with Musk’s presence,” Haberman explained on CNN’s The Source, implying that his influence had become contentious.
Sources tell us that Trump has made suggestions in private that Musk could soon step down from his position, indicating a change in dynamics between the two. Earlier, the president had sought out means to temporarily extend Musk’s 130-day deadline as a special government employee.
Musk has also been criticized for trying to divert attention from a recent MAGA loss in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election. Haberman added that Trump is aware of the trouble Musk’s presence is causing.
“He doesn’t want to spend the next year and a half before the midterms arguing with Musk’s aggressive strategy of reducing government,” she said.
Trump’s aides have supposedly grown uncomfortable with Musk’s mercurial temperament, viewing him as an increasingly political liability. Trump prefers a more measured approach, while Musk’s has been likened to “governing with a chainsaw,” Haberman said.
In spite of these tensions, sources indicate that Musk is expected to continue in an informal advisory capacity. One senior government official said to Politico, “Anyone who thinks Musk will go away completely is deluding themselves.”