Elon Musk
Walter Isaacson, author of the widely-read 2023 biography Elon Musk, has expressed regret over the billionaire’s approach to his recent government role, stating it is a “shame” he didn’t focus on changing the U.S. government “for good.”
Isaacson completed his biography before Musk was appointed by the Trump administration to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cabinet-level office created to cut spending and reduce regulations.
Isaacson’s Critique: A Misapplication of Talent
In an interview with C-SPAN, Isaacson traced Musk’s political evolution, noting he “watched him move from being an Obama supporter to becoming very anti-woke and populist.” He added, “I knew he wanted to go into government.”
However, Isaacson argued that Musk’s actions within the administration ultimately undermined his potential for lasting impact.
“It’s a shame because had he focused on what he’s good at, like going to the Pentagon and addressing inefficient procurement or challenging how projects are run, he could have changed government for good,” Isaacson said. “But instead, he started firing people and reorganising agencies in ways he wasn’t suited for.”
Musk’s Response and Political Journey
A clip of the interview was shared on X, where a user criticized Isaacson’s take. Musk himself responded to the post, stating, “I need to tell my story myself and highlight lessons that I learned along the way that would be useful to others.”
Musk, once a donor to mostly Democratic candidates, became one of Donald Trump’s most influential supporters during the 2024 campaign. After Trump returned to office in 2025, Musk was appointed a senior adviser and placed in charge of DOGE.
His tenure was marked by aggressive cost-cutting, rapid staff shake-ups, and ambitious transparency proposals. He left the position in May of this year, asserting the department’s mission would “only strengthen over time.”
In July, Musk announced he was launching a new “America Party,” positioning it as an alternative to the two-party system, which he claimed is “broken.”
