Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, acknowledged in an interview with The Economist that he became overly entangled in politics, reflecting on the closure of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. “I think I got a little too involved in politics,” Musk said. “I got carried away frankly.”
Musk’s political foray peaked during the 2024 elections, when he funneled over $250 million into supporting President Trump. After Trump’s victory, Musk was tapped to lead DOGE, a cost-cutting effort aimed at slashing federal spending. “The goal with the sort of DOGE stuff was to try to do something about the deficit, which is massive,” Musk explained. “We need to sort of take a close look at spending and make sure that money is being spent in sensible ways and that it is not wasted or spent on fraudulent activities.”
DOGE quickly became a lightning rod for controversy, driving sweeping job and funding cuts across the federal government. The initiative officially shut down on July 4, but its momentum had been fading for over a year after Musk’s departure in late May 2025. The backlash from his work spilled over into his business empire, particularly Tesla, whose stock tumbled during his brief four-month stint in the administration.
The political turbulence didn’t end with DOGE. Musk clashed publicly with Trump over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping spending bill championed by the president. In a move that echoed generational divides in American politics, Musk threatened to launch a third party, though the effort never materialized. The rift has since mended, with Musk attending a White House dinner last November and joining Trump on a trip to China with other tech leaders in May.
The DOGE shutdown marks a significant moment in the intersection of business and governance, a topic that has increasingly drawn scrutiny. As a Gallup poll shows one in ten Americans now view politics as a top safety threat, Musk’s admission reflects a broader reckoning for figures who wade into political waters. “I got a lot of flak from this,” Musk said, hinting at the personal and professional costs of his political engagement.
Despite the controversy, Musk remains a central figure in Trump’s orbit, though his influence appears tempered. The DOGE saga underscores the perils of mixing corporate power with partisan politics, a lesson that resonates beyond Washington. As the dust settles, Musk’s candid acknowledgment may signal a retreat from the political arena—or at least a more measured approach.
