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Republicans on Capitol Hill, regardless of their political leanings, shared a common feeling: Finally.
The report on Wednesday—if true—that the billionaire was set to leave President Donald Trump’s inner circle in the coming weeks brought relief to leading GOP aides. They viewed Trump’s “chaos agent” as hindering their efforts to advance a conservative agenda. Some speculated that Musk might not completely leave the Administration but reduce his public role. The ambiguity of this scaling back was typical of a President who dislikes being confined or validating his critics.
Musk, the Tesla CEO who acquired Twitter and aims to colonize Mars, has been a significant distraction and a lightning rod for controversy, diverting attention from what should be a united Republican front controlling the House, Senate, and the executive branch. His constant presence at the White House has irritated Cabinet Secretaries and department heads. He embodies the Trump administration’s amateurism and questionable practices. Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency have swiftly cut programs and jobs in Washington, a pace that even some small-government conservatives deem too rapid, with insufficient consideration for the repercussions, while allegedly securing billions in government contracts for his own enterprises.
News of Musk’s anticipated departure, initially reported by Politico, surfaced less than 24 hours after concerning results for Republicans in special elections in Florida and Wisconsin. These initial assessments of the second Trump era revealed that Republicans underperformed in strongly pro-Trump areas and failed entirely in a state Supreme Court election that Musk heavily promoted. The outcome of that particular race, in a state usually decided by a narrow margin, saw the liberal candidate win by a significant 10-point lead, highlighting the most evident problems.
“Day late. Dollar short,” one Hill aide texted, linking to the Politico article. “Glad we made the WI-SC race all about Elon.” The sarcasm was palpable.
Another responded with a lyric from Lizzo: “About damn time.”
The report sparked immediate backlash, particularly from Trump’s defenders. Their argument was that while Musk harmed the GOP image and his efforts in Wisconsin were a failure, his celebrity aligned well with Trump’s self-perception. Additionally, Musk remains the wealthiest person globally, and his resources are available for potential exploitation.
The White House officially dismissed the report as “garbage.” However, there were indications that Musk’s tenure was limited, including the President’s statement that Musk would eventually return to the private sector.
“At some point, Elon’s going to want to go back to his company,” Trump remarked on Monday.
Hill Republicans have largely tolerated Musk because he holds the President’s ear, who has invited his billionaire benefactor to Cabinet meetings, bill signings, and even his joint address to Congress. Musk’s prominence has overshadowed others in the Trump Cabinet, and tensions within the inner circle have surfaced as those responsible for leading the government have resented orders from the billionaire friend. Lawmakers have complained of being caught off guard by cuts and changes, leaving them vulnerable back home. Musk and his team have entered departments, gaining access to sensitive data to identify waste, fraud, and abuse, often making cuts and publicizing them before fully understanding the implications.
Musk’s campaign against government spending has resulted in reports of veterans being fired, entire agencies being shut down—likely illegally, according to courts—and benefits being jeopardized. This has led to a barrage of negative headlines, which White House aides have tried to downplay, knowing Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars on Trump’s last election and has pledged $100 million for future campaigns.
Lawmakers have attempted to convey the concerns of their constituents to the White House but have been careful not to appear anti-Musk. While Trump voters may express a desire for government cuts, they are less supportive when the details emerge, particularly when farm subsidies are threatened, V.A. services are jeopardized, and popular programs in rural schools are put at risk. In short, local problems could create a national wave.
Tuesday’s election results served as the first significant warning of these issues and their consequences. Musk made the Wisconsin race his personal cause, claiming that Western civilization was at stake. He visited the state over the weekend, campaigning for a Trump-backed candidate and distributing checks to voters. Although the state is accustomed to out-of-state political activists—it has long been a testing ground for the network of groups funded by the billionaire Koch family—the level of Democratic animosity toward Musk’s efforts was unprecedented.
In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the results on Wednesday and credited Trump with securing the two races in strongly Republican territory. DeSantis, who described one of the nominees as uniquely terrible, conceded that this was not a positive direction for the GOP.
As White House aides strategized on how to spin the setbacks, the most obvious solution was also the simplest: distance themselves from Musk. Given his position, Musk was always expected to have a limited tenure, likely ending in May. His role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was a side project while he continued to run his businesses and launch rockets. Expediting his departure, or at least signaling his move to the background, would benefit Trump.
Trump has demonstrated in the past that his loyalty is conditional. To avoid political discomfort, he has dismissed aide after aide. While Musk has earned Trump’s respect and admiration—and possesses unparalleled financial resources—there’s no reason to believe he cannot eventually be sidelined. This is precisely what traditional Republicans have been hoping for, and they were encouraged on Wednesday that some patterns endure. While the details of Musk’s withdrawal remain unclear, the fact that the discussion is being met with such enthusiasm among Hill Republicans may be the affirmation that prompts Trump to definitively approve Musk’s shift.
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