Elon Musk has publicly questioned whether his time leading the Department of Government Efficiency was worth the personal and professional cost, marking a rare moment of doubt from the billionaire entrepreneur.
In a candid interview on “The Katie Miller Podcast,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO expressed deep uncertainty about his high-profile government role.
When asked directly if he would take on DOGE again, Musk’s answer was clear. “I mean, no, I don’t think so,” Musk stated during the conversation with Katie Miller.
The tech mogul suggested he would have been better off focusing on his business ventures instead of diving into Washington’s bureaucratic swamp.
Musk indicated that without the political firestorm his government work created, his companies would have fared better.
“I think instead of doing DOGE, I would have basically … worked on my companies, essentially,” he explained during the wide-ranging discussion.
Musk pointed to violent attacks on Tesla vehicles as evidence of the backlash his political involvement triggered.
The entrepreneur referenced incidents earlier this year where his cars became targets after he began working with the second Trump administration.
“The cars — they wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” Musk said, describing an alternate timeline where he stayed out of politics.
When Miller pressed him on DOGE’s accomplishments, Musk offered only modest praise for the initiative’s impact. His assessment of the department’s success was measured and far from triumphant.
“We’re a little bit successful. We’re somewhat successful,” the Tesla founder acknowledged, before quickly tempering expectations about what DOGE actually achieved.
Musk estimated that federal waste amounted to massive annual losses, but admitted DOGE only scratched the surface. The scale of government inefficiency proved far more entrenched than anticipated.
“There was, like, probably $100, maybe $200 billion worth of zombie payments per year,” he revealed, noting that DOGE managed to eliminate only a small portion of those expenditures.
The SpaceX CEO warned that cutting off wasteful government spending came with fierce political retaliation. He described a system where entrenched interests fought hard to maintain the status quo.
“If you stop money going to political corruption, they will lash out big time,” Musk stated bluntly. “They really want the money to keep flowing.”
Musk also took aim at what he characterized as excessive government payments, including transfers to migrants. He claimed the current system creates powerful incentives for illegal immigration.
He blasted what he called “massive transfer payments” to migrants and claimed the system creates a “gigantic money magnet” that encourages people to come to the US.
The X owner admitted he entered Washington with few illusions about how the system operated. His time in government only confirmed his skepticism about federal spending and bureaucratic resistance to change.
“I wouldn’t say I was super illusioned to begin with,” Musk said before launching into criticism of government waste.
Beyond politics, Musk opened up about personal struggles that have affected his daily life. The entrepreneur disclosed that artificial intelligence concerns frequently disrupt his sleep.
He confessed that “AI nightmares” still jolt him awake — “many days in a row,” he said — and he’s running life on six hours of sleep.
When pressed on what specifically haunts him, Musk was direct about the source of his anxiety.
“Why do I wake up in nightmares? Oh, AI. Yeah,” he stated.
Musk insisted he works to eliminate any unfounded worries from his thinking. The tech leader quoted from science fiction to describe his approach to fear.
“If I find an irrational fear, I … squelch it. Fear is the mind killer,” he said.
The billionaire also revealed how his public profile has severely restricted his personal freedom.
Musk explained he can no longer participate in normal public activities due to security concerns.
Musk said he can’t do anything “where there’s the general public” because of instant selfie mobs and “serious security issues,” especially after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The entrepreneur described his current existence in stark terms, emphasizing the constant vigilance required.
His lifestyle has become increasingly constrained by the risks that come with his fame and controversial positions.
“Life is on a hardcore mode,” he said. “You make one mistake, and you’re dead.”
The interview with Miller, who is married to Stephen Miller, one of President Trump’s top White House aides, revealed a Musk grappling with the consequences of his political involvement.
His final words on returning to DOGE suggested the door remains closed. “I don’t think so,” he concluded. “Knowing what I know now.”
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