Tech billionaire Elon Musk appears to be breaking ranks with the current US administration after Trump imposed sweeping world-wide tariffs, causing Google searches for “is Elon Musk leaving DOGE” to spike on Monday (7 April).

Elon Musk was appointed to head up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and was lauded by Trump as a “patriot” but now he has openly questioned the President’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.

Trump announced the tariffs on April 2, announcing a 10% baseline tax on all imports and even higher penalties for China (34%) and the EU (20%).

The move was pitched as a push to restore US manufacturing and “Make America Great Again”, but it has triggered widespread backlash – as well as criticism from Trump’s allies.

Elon Musk’s companies rely heavily on the global supply chain, for example lithium manufactured in China.

Musk used social media to express concern about the tariffs by sharing a video of economist Milton Friedman to discuss the importance of free markets and international cooperation.

In the clip, Friedman says: “The magic of the price system is essential – not only for efficiency, but for peace.”

Musk previously called for a “zero tariff situation” between the US and Europe, saying that it would create a “de facto free trade zone”.

He also mocked White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, whom he holds responsible for the tariffs, writing: “In every disaster throughout American history, there always seems to be a man from Harvard in the middle of it.”

Navarro responded that Elon Musk is only criticising the policy out of self-interest, as the tariffs threaten to erode margins for Tesla and increase the cost of electric vehicles at a time when EV sales are slowing down.

So… is Elon Musk leaving DOGE? Well, yes, but not as imminently as some people might think. It has been confirmed that Musk is expected to step back from his role soon, though there is no evidence to suggest the timing is anything other than coincidental. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed this on social media.

She wrote: “Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete.”

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