DOHA, Qatar — Elon Musk says he’s stepping away from political campaign donations and reaffirming his long-term commitment to Tesla, even as the electric car giant struggles with faltering global sales and internal unrest over his leadership.
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk announced he plans to remain Tesla CEO for at least another five years, adding that he’s done with campaign contributions — including support for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
“I’m going to do a lot less in the future,” Musk said when asked about his political involvement. “I’ve done enough.” He confirmed he will not fund upcoming election campaigns and brushed off speculation about his job security with characteristic irreverence: “Well, no, I might die,” he joked, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Musk’s remarks come as Tesla’s board reportedly began evaluating new leadership in response to growing internal frustration, according to The Wall Street Journal. That friction has been amplified by Musk’s vocal political stances, including his close alignment with Trump, which has alienated many of Tesla’s early liberal-leaning customer base.
Sales figures reflect that shift. While automakers like Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and GM have reported robust growth in electric vehicle sales, Tesla’s U.S. sales have plummeted. Overseas, the picture is even worse: Tesla sales in China are down over 18% year-over-year, while in the United Kingdom, sales have cratered by 62%. In Germany, Tesla’s sales have dropped 46% since January.
Musk continues to lead a sprawling tech empire, including SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and xAI, in addition to his controversial involvement in politics and influence in conservative circles. He has also advised the White House in his capacity as head of DOGE, a self-declared role that further complicated his standing with Tesla’s progressive customer base.
Although Musk has publicly distanced himself from campaign financing, the political fallout from his previous endorsements appears to be far from over — especially as Tesla contends with a sharp decline in consumer trust and increasing competitive pressure.
Whether his decision to step back from political donations will reverse the damage to Tesla’s reputation and bottom line remains to be seen. But for now, Musk insists he isn’t going anywhere.
