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Elon Musk to Stay Tesla CEO despite Reduced Campaign Spending

CEO

Business Honor
21 May, 2025

Musk confirms five-year CEO commitment, plans to cut political donations amid ongoing backlash and challenges.

Elon Musk has confirmed he will remain the CEO of Tesla for at least the next five years. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk was asked if he would still lead Tesla in five years. His answer was short and clear: “Yes.” He joked that the only reason he wouldn’t be around is if he were dead.

For Tesla, this pledge comes at a challenging moment. The company has been under pressure from customers and investors, especially because of Musk’s close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump and his political donations. Some protests in Europe and a drop in Tesla sales have also added to the concerns.

Despite this, Musk said he is not stepping back from politics completely. Musk acknowledged that his political involvement had led to threats and even acts of violence but stated that he did what he believed was necessary. Despite this he now intends to scale back his political contributions remarking that he feels he has "done enough." In the past, he has donated at least $250 million to support Donald Trump’s campaign.

Musk also addressed legal issues around his pay. Musk harshly slammed his $56 billion compensation deal, which was just rejected by a judge. Still, he says he is staying not for the money, but to keep control of Tesla’s future, especially as it moves into artificial intelligence and robotics. He wants to make sure he can’t be removed by activist investors. Musk is staying on and is ready to lead Tesla through both business and political challenges.