At a celebratory rally after Trump’s inauguration, Musk’s White House career got off to a contentious start when he seemingly offered a straight-arm salute at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., as he excitedly told the crowd: “My heart goes out to you.”

A White House official told Reuters it was accurate Musk is leaving the administration and his "off-boarding will begin tonight.” Musk on Wednesday thanked U.S. President Donald Trump as his time as a special government employee as a part of the Department of Government Efficiency draws to an end,

Across multiple surveys, Musk's favorable ratings hover in the mid-30s to low-40s, with unfavorable ratings significantly higher.