Elon Musk retreats from politics, refocuses on Tesla and Mars as backlash mounts

Elon Musk retreats from politics, refocuses on Tesla and Mars as backlash mounts

Elon Musk is signalling a sharp retreat from the political spotlight after a tumultuous year in which he emerged as one of the most influential—and divisive—figures in American politics. Having poured at least $288 million into supporting Donald Trump and Republican campaigns, orchestrated sweeping federal layoffs through his US DOGE Service, and launched a high-profile campaign to reshape government spending, the billionaire now says: “I think I’ve done enough,” the Washington Post reported.

The pivot comes as Musk grapples with fierce blowback against his political involvement, growing concern for his and his family’s safety, plummeting Tesla profits, and what allies describe as disenchantment with the limits of political influence. In private conversations, Musk has expressed frustration over the personal toll of his involvement and disillusionment with Washington’s entrenched gridlock.

A costly political gamble

At a closed-door strategy session in his Austin apartment last year, Musk told Republican confidants he would do “whatever it takes” to elect Trump and trigger a conservative wave. He went all in—channelling vast sums through his America PAC and embracing the role of the GOP’s mega-donor-in-chief, earning comparisons to liberal philanthropist George Soros.

But the returns have been uneven. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency pledged to slash $2 trillion in federal spending. The latest figures—$160 billion in projected savings by 2026—fall far short, and the Trump administration’s own tax and immigration agenda is set to add $2.4 trillion to the debt, according to the CBO.

And the political cost has been steep. His involvement sparked mass protests at Tesla facilities around the world, acts of vandalism, and attacks that included gunfire and molotov cocktails. Tesla’s first-quarter profits plunged 71%, and a recent poll showed 57% of Americans disapprove of Musk’s performance in the Trump administration.

His political brand also proved toxic in key races. Musk spent $50 million backing a conservative candidate in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race—only to watch him lose by 10 points, amid a Democratic campaign that used Musk as a lightning rod to rally turnout.

“Now that some time is bought, let’s just get back to going to Mars”

Faced with backlash and bruising headlines, Musk is shifting focus back to his primary ventures: Tesla and SpaceX. Both are at critical junctures. Tesla is preparing to unveil a long-promised fully autonomous vehicle in June. SpaceX, meanwhile, plans another Starship test flight next week and aims to send an unmanned fleet to Mars in 2026.

“This is a pivotal year,” Musk said in a recent appearance, underscoring his view that the future of Tesla “overwhelmingly” depends on autonomy. He’s also doubling down on the Cybercab, a futuristic, steering-wheel-free vehicle Musk calls a "$30,000 lounge on wheels."

SpaceX, under COO Gwynne Shotwell, has maintained momentum even as Musk focused on Washington. The company continues to ferry astronauts to the ISS, expand its Starlink network, and prepare for NASA’s 2027 lunar return. Musk now plans to visit Starbase, the Texas rocket site, to outline his “Mars game plan”—reigniting his decades-long dream of interplanetary colonization.

Fallout within Tesla—and GOP concerns about 2026

Internally, frustration is mounting. Some employees blame Tesla’s recent turmoil not on Musk’s absence but on the controversies he’s invited. “We are fighting against the torrential downpour he is putting on us,” said former staffer Matthew LaBrot, who was fired after launching a campaign calling on Musk to step down.

Outside the company, Republicans are already feeling the loss. Musk’s America PAC had been expected to power GOP turnout in the 2026 midterms and beyond. But sources close to the PAC say Musk’s recent comments have sent a clear signal: “The faucet is off.”

That could leave a sizable gap in the conservative political machinery. “If he is truly out, that will create a scramble of who is going to turn out voters around the country,” said one GOP strategist.

From “Soros of the right” to space pioneer, again

Musk’s flirtation with power politics was always risky. He acknowledged the potential fallout when he pledged support for Trump, telling allies it was about “philosophical” commitments to free speech, crime, and immigration—not personal gain. But the scope and speed of the backlash appear to have surprised even him.

Now, as Trump prepares for a contentious re-election campaign and Washington grapples with Musk’s imprint on federal policy, the world’s richest man is charting a new course—one that leads away from Capitol Hill and back toward deep space.

“Hill politics is not a high-leverage activity anymore,” said one person close to Musk. “The mission to Mars always was.”