Elon Musk left the White House. Don't be surprised to see him in campaign ads next year.

"He doesn't get to just go away," a Democratic strategist told BI. "He's indelibly tied to everything that happens in the Trump administration."Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesElon Musk's time at the White House is over.His time as a mainstay of American politics is probably not.It's not just that Republicans love him. It's that Democrats love to hate him.Elon Musk's tenure as a White House employee is over. His time in the political spotlight is probably not.That's not just because he says he'll continue to be in Washington frequently, or because Republicans will continue to call on him for advice. It's also because Democrats are likely to keep bringing him up, continuing to use him as a foil as they look to retake power in the 2026 midterm elections."He doesn't get to just go away," Mike Nellis, founder and CEO of the Democratic campaign firm Authentic told BI. "He's indelibly tied to everything that happens in the Trump administration."As the informal head of DOGE, Musk embarked on a dramatic campaign of firings and shuttering of federal agencies that helped reignite what had once been a dormant Democratic resistance. Musk's favorability with the public sank lower than Trump, according to numerous polls, and that unpopularity eventually spilled over to Tesla.Six months later, Musk is a mainstay of Democratic messaging, popping up in places he wasn't before. Democrats aren't just taking on billionaires; they're taking on "billionaires like Elon Musk." Republicans aren't just cutting taxes for the wealthy; they're cutting taxes for the world's richest man.Viet Shelton, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said that Musk "is, and forever will be, an instantly recognizable manifestation of the fact that House Republicans don't work for the American people, they work for the billionaires.""Top of mind for voters are the pocketbook issues," Shelton said. "Democrats are going to win by highlighting the fact that Republicans are failing at lowering costs because they are too busy pushing tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, while making the rest of us pay for them."Going after Musk is seen as a political winner, and Democrats are unlikely to just give it up, even if Musk himself isn't hanging around the White House so much anymore. The tech titan spent nearly $300 million to elect Trump and other Republicans in 2024, making it easy to cast Musk as the GOP's prime benefactor."He's turned himself into a poison pill for the Republican Party, and they tied themselves right to him, and he's an anchor," Nellis said. "So as long as that continues to be effective messaging, there's no reason to get away from that."As Musk says he's turning back toward his companies, some lawmakers have taken to insisting that the tech titan is as present as before, but keeping out of sight."He's just trying to hide in the shadows," Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin previously told BI, saying that Republicans "realize he's a liability, and they just want to put him in the back closet."Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, a prominent progressive who led the charge among Democrats to make Musk into a villain, told BI in a statement that Musk was "forced to leave" by public outcry over his work at DOGE and his financial entanglement with the federal government."We cannot allow Musk to slink back behind the curtain and continue pulling the strings of the government out of sight," Casar said. "As long as Musk continues to corrupt our government, I will be organizing to make sure Americans know what he is doing and hold him and Trump accountable."Even if Musk isn't physically present in Washington as much, Democrats can fundraise off of his name, as they have with other major GOP donors."He's actually the first billionaire to remove the veil," Nellis said. "The Koch brothers didn't go work in the government. Sheldon Adelson didn't go work in the government. Elon Musk did."Musk did not return a request for comment. He has lamented the reputational hit his companies have taken, and he said in two different interviews recently that DOGE had become the "whipping boy" for any unfavorable policies enacted by the Trump administration."That's what happens when you choose to make yourself a public figure like this," Nellis said. "He could have done this more quietly, and it still probably would have happened anyway, but he went all in, in a way you've never seen a billionaire do before."Read the original article on Business Insider

Comments

Business News

I'd never paid a bill until my divorce at 57! Here's the vital advice I'd give every married woman...

Dailymail

A US Navy warship captain said the Red Sea conflict was a 'knife fight in a phone booth.' China would be way more challenging.

about 6 hours ago

insider

I lived at home while going to college and commuted to campus. People thought it was a strange decision, but it saved me thousands.

about 6 hours ago

NPR

How tariffs on aluminium and steel are impacting a recycling business in Pennsylvania

about 6 hours ago

Comments

Similar News

DOGE caucus leader says Elon Musk made a 'massive exaggeration' about spending cuts

The advice Elon Musk's lawyer gives his high-profile clients in times of crisis

The Trump-Elon Musk Feud Creates More Problems for Tesla

Why Trump And Elon Musk's Explosive 'Break-Up' Is No Surprise: GOP Strategist

Republicans urge Donald Trump and Elon Musk to end their feud

A timeline of Donald Trump and Elon Musk's falling out

Trump is considering selling his Tesla after feuding with Elon Musk

Trump wants to get rid of the Tesla he bought to show support for Elon Musk, White House says

Tesla share plunge amid Trump feud wipes $152bn off Elon Musk’s company

Elon Musk just had one of his biggest single-day net worth losses

Donald Trump tells White House press conference he is disappointed with Elon Musk – video

Elon Musk says he'll 'decommission' SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft after Trump threatens his businesses

Elon Musk Becomes $27 Billion Poorer As Trump Quarrel Eats Into Net Worth

It sure looks like Mark Cuban is on board with Elon Musk's idea of a new political party

Elon Musk Becomes $26 Billion Poorer As Trump Quarrel Eats Into Net Worth

Elon Musk’s Net Worth Dips Below $400 Billion As Trump Quarrel Erases $17 Billion

Tesla shares tumble as Trump, Musk escalate attacks: ‘Elon’s politics continue to harm stock’

Trump says he and Elon Musk 'had a great relationship,' but it might be over now

Elon Musk hasn't stopped bashing Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'

‘Rare That I Find Myself Agreeing With Elon Musk’: Tammy Duckworth Issues Warning About Trump Budget

Business News

I'd never paid a bill until my divorce at 57! Here's the vital advice I'd give every married woman...

Al Pacino Horror Movie ‘The Ritual’ Splattered With 6% Critics Score

The Musk Vs. Trump Feud: Musk Deletes Tweet Linking President To Epstein Files

Nintendo Issues Two Safety Warnings About The Nintendo Switch 2

NYT ‘Connections’ Hints And Answers For Sunday, June 8th

Coco Gauff Becomes First American Woman Since Serena Williams To Win French Open

Coco Gauff Wins French Open—Her Second Grand Slam Title

WWE Money In The Bank 2025 Match Card, Participants And Favorites

Gauff And Sabalenka Final Show Women’s Tennis Is Ready For 5 Sets

‘Ballerina’ Has Higher Audience Scores Than Every ‘John Wick’ Movie

Gap Partners With Malbon Golf To Bridge Gap Between Style And Sport

Can an American pope apply U.S.-style fundraising to fix Vatican finances?

What it would take to convert a jet from Qatar into Air Force One to safely fly Trump

X for the win? Users were glued to the Elon Musk v. President Trump blowup

Federal judge approves $2.8B settlement, paving way for U.S. colleges to pay athletes millions

J.D. Vance hopes Elon Musk mends fences with Trump

9 freebies and discounts over 60s can claim now even if you're not retired yet

Warning issued over ‘Martin Lewis arrested’ scam ads as MSE founder issues plea

Woman marched off Glasgow Jet2 flight 'like a criminal' over anxiety issue

Warning issued to UK households over ‘rare’ 50p coins that are being sold on eBay for up to £100

Lidl’s sell-out pizza oven is back in shops this week – it’s a dupe for a much more expensive one

Popular city centre cafe that starred in ITV show closes for good as owner reveals ‘we’re devastated’

Billie Eilish’s Mid-Career Album Becomes A Bestseller Again

What Time Does The 2025 BET Awards Start? Everything To Know

AC/DC’s Electrifying Single Is A Top 10 Hit Again On Every U.S. Chart

R. Kelly Earns New Platinum Awards While Incarcerated

Morgan Wallen Ties Taylor Swift’s Greatest Hot 100 Feat

Hulu’s ‘Predator: Killer Of Killers’ Lands Predator’s Best Critic Score Ever

New Study Reveals AI’s Blind Spot: Children

Small-Market Finals Concerns Highlight Where NBA Is Still Growing

Toby Keith’s Music Surges On The Billboard Charts

Playboi Carti Nearly Hits No. 1 Following 67,000% Sales Surge

Target Moves Pride Merchandise Aside To Spotlight Father’s Day And July 4th Holidays

All The ‘Love Island USA’ Couples Who Are Still Together From Every Season

The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In June 2025

Trump's tariffs could pay for his tax cuts -- but it likely wouldn't be much of a bargain

Nationwide customers could make up to £759 by making simple switch

Shoppers race to buy garden must-have from Amazon that adds instant privacy & perfect for unpredictable British summers

State Pension's future under review amid major retirement shake-up

‘This £11 dewy face mist makes my 50-year-old skin feel so much younger’ say shoppers

Bestselling Ninja air fryer at lowest price all year on Amazon and cheaper buying direct

10 celebrities who lived to 100 &mdash; and how they did it

JD Vance says it's a 'huge mistake' for Musk to 'go after' Trump

US presidents ranked by their approval ratings when they left office

Meta's tech chief says smart glasses will be the next smartphone &mdash; just don't expect it soon

Saturday, June 7. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine

UFC Tonight: What Time Does The UFC 316 Fight Card Start?

Metallica’s Smash Brings The Band To A Milestone For The First Time

Simone Biles Tells Riley Gaines She’s ‘Sick’ In Spat Over Trans Softball Champion

Cadbury confirms it’s discontinued much-loved biscuit treat

The exact time you should wash your clothes to lower energy bills

You can now get tiramisu passed through 'secret' window but it isn't cheap

Bank of Canada’s head says rate pause a result of ‘shock-prone’ world

This corporal's 'reply all' email debacle went viral. When the memes blew up, a top Marine took notice.

When family members died, I struggled to share the news with my kids. Looking at photos helped all of us.

I paid $180 to sit in business class on a 9-hour Amtrak ride from Rochester to NYC. Next time, I'll stick to coach.

My mother and grandmother have no savings, and I'm bitter that I'll need to support them as they age

10 celebrities who lived to 100 — and how they did it

Meta's tech chief says smart glasses will be the next smartphone — just don't expect it soon