Elon Musk’s recent interview took an unexpected turn after a question about former President Donald Trump’s policies.
Speaking with CBS reporter David Pogue in one of his first public appearances since leaving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk bristled when asked whether he supported Trump’s decision to ban international students. “I think we want to stick to the subject of the day, which is spaceships, as opposed to presidential policy,” Musk replied, attempting to redirect the conversation.
Musk’s relationship with Trump has shifted in recent weeks. While serving at DOGE, he was one of the president’s most visible supporters, often appearing at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. However, Musk has grown increasingly critical, expressing disappointment last month over Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which he said contained excessive federal spending and undermined DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts. “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both,” Musk told CBS.
During the interview, Pogue also questioned Musk about the impact of Trump’s tariff policies on his companies. Musk acknowledged that “tariffs always affect things a little bit” and reiterated his earlier opposition to such measures, even during his tenure at DOGE. He went on to defend his agency, saying DOGE was unfairly blamed for unpopular budget cuts. “I’m stuck in a bind, where I don’t want to speak up against the administration, but I don’t want to take responsibility for everything the administration is doing,” he explained.
Polling data from Nate Silver’s aggregator shows Musk’s net favorability fell from -5 points at the start of Trump’s term to -14 by the time of his departure from DOGE. Reflecting on his government service, Musk recently posted on X thanking Trump for the opportunity to “reduce wasteful spending” and expressing hope that DOGE’s mission would “become a way of life” in government operations. With his political role behind him, Musk is now expected to refocus his attention on Tesla and SpaceX.
