The Tesla and SpaceX CEO says any criticism would create a “bone of contention” with President Trump, whom he helped install into office. Just about 48 hours after Musk left the government, his preferred pick to run NASA was withdrawn by the White House.
Now that Elon Musk is no longer a member of President Trump’s advisory team, the Tesla CEO and SpaceX entrepreneur is starting to put some daylight between himself and the White House.
The world’s wealthiest man spent over a quarter of a billion dollars of his own fortune to ensure Trump beat opponent Kamala Harris in November’s race for the Oval Office.
Musk was so jubilant his all-in bet paid off, that his excited thank-you to Trump voters at the inauguration was likened to fascist salute as he claimed “the future of civilization is assured”.
Speaking with CBS News, a far more restrained Musk struck a markedly different tone.
Initially insisting he would only discuss SpaceX, the tycoon then complained about the federal spending bill currently making its way through Congress.
“I’m a little stuck in a bind,” Musk told the broadcaster in an interview. “I don’t want to speak out against the administration, but I also don’t want to take responsibility for everything the administration is doing.”
He explained that it was difficult for him to criticize the president openly since it would create a “bone of contention” between the entrepreneur and the Trump White House.
The comments to CBS News—itself under fire by critics recently for backsliding on its journalistic integrity to end a feud with Trump—were recorded in advance on Tuesday before airing on Sunday.
A few remarks had already been revealed last week, including his public criticism of Trump’s tax cut bill. Only a day after the interview, Musk gave notice that he would be leaving the government.
On Sunday, the first potential repercussions of the SpaceX CEO’s departure became visible.
Citing a thorough review of “prior associations”, Trump pulled his nomination for the post of NASA administrator, a favorite of Musk.
The entrepreneur later posted: “It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted.”
The rise and fall of Musk as Trump’s “first buddy”
Whether Trump celebrated Thanksgiving with family in Mar-a-Lago or attended sporting events like a UFC match or Army-Navy game, Musk never strayed far from his side. He called himself “First Buddy”, but others argued he acted more like a co-president.
Trump was protective of Musk, initially—even turning the White House South Lawn into an impromptu Tesla showroom.
When Musk lashed out at MAGA supporters over their opposition of the H-1b visa, Trump backed the Tesla CEO over his own base.
When reports emerged that cabinet members refused to take their orders from Musk, the president publicly faced them down in front of cameras.
This dynamic changed, according to reports, after Musk’s efforts to elect a Republican to the Wisconsin state supreme court backfired at the start of April.
Only a month ago, Musk was still singing Trump’s praises at a cabinet meeting to mark the first hundred days of his term.
The Tesla CEO was not shy about throwing around superlatives, either, predicting the Trump White House would go on to make history after more had been accomplished in his view than by any Oval Office occupant ever before.
“I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country,” he told the cabinet in comments at the time.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
