Elon Musk Navigates Politics, Prioritizes Spaceships in CBS Interview

In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk expressed his desire to focus on space exploration rather than delve into political discussions, particularly those concerning the Trump administration’s policies. The exchange began when reporter David Pogue inquired about Musk’s views on the administration’s stance on international students.

Musk responded, “I think we want to stick to the subject of the day, which is, like, spaceships, as opposed to, you know, presidential policy.” This comment signaled his preference to steer clear of political debates during the interview.

Pogue, seemingly surprised, replied, “Oh, okay, I was told, ‘Anything’s good.’” Musk clarified, “No. Well … no.”

However, Musk did address the controversy surrounding his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has faced criticism for its aggressive cuts across federal agencies. He lamented that DOGE had become “the whipping boy for everything,” explaining, “If there was some cut, real or imagined, everyone would blame DOGE.”

Musk also acknowledged the delicate balance he attempts to maintain regarding the Trump administration. “I don’t want to speak out against the administration, but I also don’t want to take responsibility for everything the administration’s doing,” he stated, highlighting his conflicted position.

The interview took place before SpaceX’s Starship test flight, during which the spacecraft launched successfully but experienced a loss of control upon reentry. When asked about the common thread linking his various ventures, including Tesla, xAI, X (formerly Twitter), Neuralink, and The Boring Company, Musk replied, “I guess you could think of the businesses as things that improve the probable trajectory of civilization.”

Musk also touched on his involvement with DOGE, stating that while he would remain involved, his primary focus would be on his companies. “DOGE is going to continue, just as a way of life. And I will have some participation in that, but as I’ve said publicly, my focus has to be on the companies at this point.”

Pogue noted that after their conversation, a clip of Musk criticizing the Trump-backed budget bill garnered significant attention. Subsequently, Musk announced the end of his tenure as a special government employee. However, Trump later stated that Musk is “not really leaving.”