Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk opened the company’s Q1 2025 earnings call on a subdued, defensive note — not discussing the company’s results, but the political backlash surrounding him.
In the first five minutes of the call, Musk addressed ongoing protests against Tesla, which he claimed were “very well organized” and “paid for.” He did not elaborate on who he believes is funding them, but suggested the demonstrations were part of a broader political campaign to damage his reputation and the company’s brand.
Musk also said that starting next month, he will begin stepping back from his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency — the decentralized open government experiment he has championed since early 2025.
He plans to commit only one day a week to DOGE-related initiatives moving forward, down from his current near-daily engagement. However, in a troubling sign for investors, he did not commit to fully abandoning his role in the initiative.
Despite Tesla’s sharp drop in earnings — and mounting concerns over declining vehicle deliveries and shrinking margins — Musk dismissed suggestions that the company is facing an existential threat.
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