--- title: "Elon Musk Reportedly Now Privately Admitting He’s Out of His Depth" description: "DOGE Days Elon Musk still has not publicly admitted that his time at the White House is about to be up — but behind the scenes, he's apparently singing a different tune. According to a source familiar with Musk's thinking who spoke to the Washington Post on condition of anonymity, the unelected billionaire is ready to leave Donald Trump's administration because he's grown weary of \"attacks\" from the \"left.\" The multi-hyphenate business owner believes, per WaPo's insider, that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will continue to do its important \"work\" gutting federal agencies, and won't be harmed by his exit. Whether […]" date: "2025-04-21" modified: "2025-04-21" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-white-house" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "doge" - "elon musk" - "the digest" - "trump administration" --- # Elon Musk Reportedly Now Privately Admitting He’s Out of His Depth ![Elon Musk still not admitted that his time at the White House is about to be up. Behind the scenes, he's apparently singing a different tune.]() *\Image: Joe Raedle via Getty / Futurism\* ## DOGE Days Elon Musk still hasn't publicly admitted that his [days as the White House's chief hatchet man are numbered]() — but behind the scenes, he's apparently singing a different tune. According to a source familiar with Musk's thinking who [spoke to the *Washington Post*]() on condition of anonymity, the unelected billionaire is ready to leave Donald Trump's administration because he's grown weary of "attacks" from the "left." The multi-hyphenate business owner believes, per *WaPo*'s insider, that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will continue to do its important "work" [gutting federal agencies](), and won't be harmed by his exit. Whether or not that's true remains to be seen, though as another anonymous insider told the newspaper, the "results speak for themselves." "No one can say DOGE has not achieved a historic amount of success," said the senior White House official — conveniently ignoring the fact that Musk [retreated from his promise]() to excise $2 trillion from the budget to a borderline-meaningless $150 billion. ## Haterade In the weeks since [*Politico* reported]() that the president has been telling confidantes that Musk is on his way out — reporting that the White House called "[garbage]()" and Musk slammed as "[fake news]()" — there has been more indication than ever that the [natalist billionaire]() has detractors in the Trump administration. "Talking to the guy is sometimes like listening to really rusty nails on a chalkboard," a senior official, who again was granted anonymity to speak freely, [told *Rolling Stone*]() earlier this month. "He’s just the most irritating person I’ve ever had to deal with, and that is saying something." Not long after, Trump's pick for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, publicly distanced himself from Musk when asked about his relationship with the fellow billionaire who once sent him into orbit on a SpaceX rocket. "I want to absolutely be clear: My loyalty is to this nation, the space agency, and their world-changing mission," Isaacman told the Senate during his [confirmation hearing on April 9]() when asked about Musk and SpaceX. "They're the contractors, NASA is the customer. They work for us, not the other way around." Though the [juvenile-minded owner]() of the everything app seems to insist that left-wingers are the ones bringing him down, it seems he doesn't want to admit the obvious: that the call is coming inside the White House. **More on Musk:** [*Elon Musk Cuts Funding for Internet Archive*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()