Trump’s inner circle has erased Elon Musk’s influence in Washington

Elon Musk used to be everywhere in President Donald Trump’s second term. The Oval Office. Air Force One. Front row at the Capitol. But now, Elon has vanished from Trump’s world. No Truth Social posts. No cabinet meetings. No email blasts begging MAGA fans for cash using his name.

According to POLITICO, the most visible tech billionaire in American politics has been completely iced out by Trump’s inner circle. For months, Trump mentioned Elon almost weekly online. From early February through March, he brought him up around four times a week.

Then it stopped. Since April began, not a single mention. His name, once a fixture in White House briefings, is now absent. Even members of Congress who once featured him in newsletters have stopped.

Elon’s disappearance comes with numbers. Public polling shows his popularity has collapsed — even worse than Trump’s in many groups. Independents and voters without college degrees have pulled away from him.

In April’s state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, the Tesla CEO became a political weapon. Democrats painted him as the man trying to buy the court. And when Elon showed up in person to back the conservative candidate, it backfired.

Judge Susan Crawford ran ads slamming him. She won by 10 points in a state Trump barely won last November. Polling from Navigator Research found that support for Elon’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dropped once voters learned he was behind it.

By late April, most voters wanted him out of government before his 130-day contract expired. That’s at the end of May. Many want him gone now.

Despite the silence, the White House hasn’t said he’s been removed. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary, dodged the topic. “The mission of DOGE — to cut waste, fraud, and abuse — will surely continue,” she said in a statement.

She didn’t say Elon’s name once. That silence says more than any quote could.

Republicans want Elon’s money, not his face

David McIntosh, head of Club for Growth, said Elon should stay behind the scenes. “Hopefully he stays a long time to do that,” he said, “but doesn’t take on this role of a campaign surrogate.” Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana admitted, “I miss him,” but also claimed Elon stepping back won’t change the midterms.

Even Jim Justice, a Trump loyalist from West Virginia, offered a half-praise. He called Elon a “patriot” but added, “We got too close to the fence. We mowed too far. We just adjust.” Translation: the guy caused problems, and the GOP had to walk it back.

Early this year, Trump’s campaign couldn’t stop mentioning Elon in emails. They used him to fire up donors online. One February email read: “I love Elon Musk! The media wants to drive us apart, and it’s not working. He’s great.”

Now, since early spring, there’s been just one more email. It promoted a “Gulf of America” hat that Elon tried on. That’s it. One email. One hat.

Democrats still use Elon as political ammo

But the Democrats aren’t dropping him just because Trump did. In fact, they’re doubling down. CJ Warnke, spokesperson for House Majority PAC, said Elon still works as a political symbol — especially when connected to Trump and the Republicans around him.

Even though his mentions have slowed, Elon keeps popping up in Democratic campaign ads. In New Jersey’s June 10 gubernatorial primary, four out of six Democratic candidates have mentioned him in TV ads. But not as the star. He usually shows up next to Trump or flashes on the screen for a second. Democrats are adjusting the tone, but they’re not letting go.

In Virginia and Pennsylvania, candidates still bring up Elon in press releases and online posts. Sometimes without naming Trump at all. He’s become a short-hand for everything they think is wrong with the Trump administration. Medicaid cuts. Tariffs. Deportations. Even if he’s no longer front-and-center in DC, they want voters to know he’s still around.

Elon hasn’t fully disappeared. Last week, he joined Trump and other tech CEOs in Saudi Arabia. They shook hands with foreign officials and spoke at an investment forum. Back home, DOGE is still running — using staff that Elon brought in. His 130-day appointment might be ending, but the program keeps going.

Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More