Donald Trump had another Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and Elon Musk attended. Remember how Trump and JD Vance threw tantrums about President Zelenskyy’s wartime uniform of black pants and a black sweater? Well, Elon wanders around the White House in an old t-shirt, ill-fitting blazer and the rare double baseball-cap look. That f–king moron really wore two baseball caps at the same time. Anyway, the Cabinet meeting turned into a farewell to Muskrat event, with Trump announcing that Elon was going back to Tesla. Musk spoke during the meeting, telling Trump it had been “an honor to work with you, so thank you for everything.” A short time later, the Wall Street Journal exclusively reported that Tesla’s board has been actively looking for to replace their CEO.
About a month ago, with Tesla’s stock sinking and some investors irritated about Elon Musk’s White House focus, Tesla’s board got serious about looking for Musk’s successor. Board members reached out to several executive search firms to work on a formal process for finding Tesla’s next chief executive, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Tensions had been mounting at the company. Sales and profits were deteriorating rapidly. Musk was spending much of his time in Washington. Around that time, Tesla’s board met with Musk for an update. Board members told him he needed to spend more time on Tesla, according to people familiar with the meeting. And he needed to say so publicly. Musk didn’t push back.
Tesla has been on a losing streak in the months since Musk, its visionary chief executive, began spending much of his time helping President Trump slash federal spending. Last week, after the company said its first-quarter profit had plunged 71%, Musk told investors he would soon pivot back to his job at Tesla.
The board narrowed its focus to a major search firm, according to the people familiar with the discussions. The current status of the succession planning couldn’t be determined. It is also unclear if Musk, himself a Tesla board member, was aware of the effort, or if his pledge to spend more time at Tesla has affected succession planning. Musk didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Soon after WSJ published this, Musk lost his damn mind and threw a tantrum on Twitter. I have that man blocked so I didn’t see much of it, but he was really upset. It sounds like he just had no idea that the board was that fed up with him and his DOGE bullsh-t. While Musk is on Tesla’s board and he’s a major shareholder, he’s still beholden to the board and other shareholders, and Tesla’s stock has sh-t the bed. It’s entirely Musk’s fault too.
Update: The chair of Tesla’s board has denied the story that some board members are looking at other CEO options. WSJ hasn’t removed their story, and I think I know why – two of Tesla’s board members are Murdochs, James and Rupert. The Murdochs own WSJ. So… yeah, the Murdochs want Musk out. A coup at Tesla?
Elon Musk is wearing two Trump caps on top of each other
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) April 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- Washington, DC – United States President Donald J. Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting in the White House’s Cabinet Room in Washington, DC. Pictured: President Donald Trump BACKGRID USA 30 APRIL 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Washington, DC – United States President Donald J. Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting in the White House’s Cabinet Room in Washington, DC. Pictured: Elon Musk BACKGRID USA 30 APRIL 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Washington, DC – United States President Donald J. Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting in the White House’s Cabinet Room in Washington, DC. Pictured: Elon Musk BACKGRID USA 30 APRIL 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
GOOD
Responding to myself to add that, even with this move if it happens, it would take a lot of time and trust rebuilding for me to ever consider buying a Tesla in the future. I hope the Board understands that, at least for me but I suspect others, the damage done cannot be repaired just by getting rid of Musk. The loss of confidence and trust extends to every Board member and each one gets a massive skeptical side eye from me. The Board had confidence in Musk and supported him for much too long, not just beginning with DOGE, a lot of really problematic stuff went on much longer as we all know.
For me personally, that he was not fired or a search launched as soon as he endorsed the AfD is unforgivable. I can’t put into words, as Jewish person, the degree of horror but also very deep anger that caused. Tesla is tainted in my eyes. Everyone associated with Tesla is tainted. Removing Musk is too little, too late.
I agree…..I wasn’t someone who was dying for a Tesla anyway, but at this point, I’m not sure I’ll ever consider one. Their brand is significantly tarnished for me, maybe permanently.
I wouldn’t buy one unless I knew he wasn’t personally profiting from a penny of my money any more. His kids can as it isn’t their fault who their sperm donor is. There are other electric cars out there. I’m not shading anyone who wants to get one, I just couldn’t stomach it. I can’t even watch the news right now.
Saw a bumper sticker on a Tesla yesterday, ‘A Friend of the Earth, NOT Elon’.
Even if they did oust him as CEO, he’d still be a shareholder and would still profit from sales… so I’m on the cancel entirely train.
Musk will continue to profit from your purchase, as long as he’s a major shareholder.
I wish people would put energy into boycotting Twitter also.
THIS. Why is anyone of conscience still using / supporting that Nazi propaganda machine?
Even of Musk is replaced as CEO at Tesla, he will still be part of the company in some capacity. Never forget, keep protesting, keep boycotting.
Today is May Day, and a national day of protest. I’ll be at Foley Square in NYC today. https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/may-day-strong
The Tesla brand has been irrevocably poisoned since Musk did the Nazi salute at the Inauguration. Musk’s personal brand has been so closely intertwined with Tesla for so long that he has completely tanked it now.
I would seriously cut off my hand before giving any of Elon’s companies a dime I just could NOT
I love this for him so hard. I sent this story to at least 6 people. In your job you should strive not to be so vile that stories of your possible firing are sent to people far and wide as a celebration.
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving maniac.
I love this for him!
Even if he is replaced, keep boycotting. His wealth is a house of cards built on Tesla stock, CEO or not.
You mean the chainsaw is gonna get fired ? Maybe he couldn’t name five things he did last week.
I f*cking LOVE karma.
The chair of Tesla’s board has denied this and says he denied this to the WSJ before the article was published. But it’s possible that some board members put out unofficial feelers on their own.
Yeah things are getting testy at Tessla
this is what I think happened. the WSJ isn’t running a story like this in this environment without having “some” sources on the board.
The board seems to be a bit of a revolving door, but I think about half of the 8 are loyal to Musk. There’s his brother Kimbal, and Staubel (a new member who was the chief engineer at Tesla), Robyn Denholm was Musk’s pick for chair, and James Murdoch’s been a long-time member. And, of course, there’s Musk himself. I can’t tell about the rest – there’s the guy who started Air B&B, a big venture capital guy and a woman who was something big at Walgreen’s. There are several ex-board members – they could be a source.
The WSJ is still pushing this false narrative that Musk is a visionary. Anyway, him going back to Tesla is not going to save the company.
🎯
Everything mango touches rots and ruins. Keep boycotting Tesla and other Musk affiliated companies even if he gets pushed out as CEO at Tesla. Most of his spending money is from Tesla stock and ill gotten government contracts. He gleefully ruined hundreds of thousands of lives and destroyed the functionality of the federal government to enrich himself with government contracts/stolen data and to block regulatory agencies that were breathing down his criminal neck. Everything this drugged out narcissistic fucker has touched needs financially ruined to put Bezos and the rest of the oligarchs happily fucking over the working class on notice. The Tesla brand will never recover from the association with Musk. Pushing him out as CEO won’t help Tesla at this point.
Amen.
Is someone surprised?
I am not.
Also I never got Musk appeal, all the “hoopla” surrounding him .
Teslas already feel very antiquated compared to BYD and other Chinese EVs. Given the fact that Dear Leader has destroyed our trading relationship with China, this probably won’t happen anytime soon but Americans are more interested in EVs like BYD is producing. They’re more affordable and can recharge up to 250 miles of range in just five minutes which is around four times faster than Tesla’s Supercharger network. China is just outpacing American companies in EV technology (and honestly tech in general).
Tesla just isn’t viewed as a cutting-edge, innovative car manufacturer anymore, to the extent it ever was that. So if Musk stepped down, it may save the Tesla brand but I’m not sure they’ll ever catch up to China.
It will be cheaper to travel to China and buy one.
Tesla was going downhill long before DOGE. The Cybertruck is so poorly designed and made, and it looks like a joke. Musk isn’t a mystical visionary.
Every time I see one of those on the road, I feel like I’m in some weird video game. That thing is hideous.
I’ve seen so many stories of people being trapped in their cyber trucks during accidents, or how they can’t drive over tiny little hills or bumps in the road. People pulling off parts of the exterior paneling with their bare hands…and it’s so very very ugly
Elon uses his money to buy power, influence, and people who pretend to be his friends. Removing him as CEO won’t divest him of his ownership stake. I won’t spend one dime at Tesla until he’s GONE gone.
Yep Everything Trump touches does…see the souls id the trump children, , 8 businesses, and the formerly classy decor of the White a house. See also the US economy, Tesla, and the Rose Garden (RIP)
When I see those god awful cybertrucks I assume it’s being driven by a guy with a tiny pee pee.
Same! And then I laugh because they’re so stupid looking.
OMG yes I see a cyber truck I assume man who can’t get a date
This brand is over regardless of CEO, too little too late, Space Karen did sieg heils on inauguration day and they did not disown this mofo, so nope, looking forward to the margin call on this shit show. This is smoke and mirrors and the stock always falsely pumped up, he has wrecked the Federal government and mined data illegally, hope the stock plummets. He has the grosses over bloated face mirrors his greed, gluttony and villainous temperament.