On Tuesday, Elon Musk affirmed that he will still hold the title of Tesla CEO five years from now.
While participating in a virtual session at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk was asked about his future as the leader of an electric vehicle company and simply replied, “Yes.”
The moderator added, “There’s absolutely no doubt about that,” prompting a lighthearted comment from an advisor, joking, “If he’s dead, he won’t be here yet.”
Earlier this year, Tesla became a focal point of political tensions, as demonstrators voiced concerns regarding Musk and Trump’s claims of enhanced government efficiency tied to the company. Protests occurred at dealerships nationwide, mostly peaceful, though some escalated into violence.
Tesla reported a significant 71% decline in revenue for the first quarter, with earnings dropping 9% to $19.3 billion.
During a revenue call last month, Musk sought to reassure investors about plans to lessen involvement with Doge by the end of this month. The special government status granted to tech leaders is set to conclude on May 30th.
After three months leading efforts related to Doge, Musk stated that “major tasks” were completed to form the committee, allowing Tesla to redirect its focus. This group has advocated for substantial layoffs in federal agencies and reductions in program funding.
When pressed on whether the backlash has made him reconsider his political involvement, Musk took a moment before responding, “I did what I had to do.”
“I’ve committed violence, I’ve committed massive violence against my company, and massive violence has been threatened against me,” he added, further stating, “Don’t worry, we’re here for you.”
Musk, who also heads SpaceX and owns Social Platform X, expressed intentions to reduce political donations after contributing millions to the 2024 presidential election and other campaigns.
He mentioned that he felt he had done his part well but kept the option open for future contributions, noting, “From a political spending perspective, I’m going to do much less in the future. If I see the reasons for political spending in the future, I’ll do that. There’s no reason at the moment.”
Musk has invested over $250 million into Trump’s campaign efforts, with his spending continuing into this year, including more than $12 million from his US PAC in the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
