Trump privately indicates Musk to step back from administration after government employee status expires: Sources

Trump is reportedly telling aides that Elon Musk will be “stepping back” from his White House role soon, just hours after Musk’s humiliating loss in Wisconsin.

President Donald Trump has indicated to top advisers that Elon Musk could be taking a step back from his current role in the administration, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Musk is employed by the government as a “special government employee” — meaning his appointment is not to exceed 130 days. His term would be up around the end of May, but it was widely rumored that the White House could take steps to keep him on or extend his employment status in some way.

As ABC News has previously reported, Musk’s decision-making has divided Trump’s top aides and at times has sparked rifts among those closest to the president.

Some of Musk’s defenders in the White House caution reporting that Musk is being pushed out is overblown, sources said.

Trump remains pleased with what Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency team have done with their cost-cutting across the government, despite the backlash publicly and in the courts, according to sources.