Elon Musk is out at DOGE and in Washington D.C., in general. It was a blistering few months he spent at the apex of political power in the United States. He's going through what many conservatives have long experienced in Republican politics: promises of change and little to show for it.

John Eckdahl summed it up best on X/Twitter, "Elon Musk really did speed run through the Republican Party experience. 1. Euphoric victory. 2. Grand sweeping plans. 3. Complete governing incompetence. 4. Political disillusionment."

The Babylon Bee summarized Musk's experience in simlar terms, with the headline: "Elon Musk Leaves Job Of Making Government More Efficient For Much Easier Job Of Sending Humans To Mars."

It's hard to escape that conclusion. It really is Musk exiting Washington D.C., though. Some may suggest that Musk is leaving because his term as a "special government employee" is up, but that's a red herring. That term is up, but the White House could devise another approach to keep Musk around if it wanted.

During the Biden presidency, Anita Dunn and Andy Slavitt both held similar roles. Dunn hopped in and out of various roles just like this, which most observers broadly agreed was so she could avoid public disclosure laws.

Democrats didn't care about that arrangement, and the idea that Musk's tenure in a similar capacity bothered them is a case of hypocrisy.

And if that's true, then the only real conclusion to draw here is that Trump and Musk are heading in different directions. In truth, the moment Musk quieted down, after all the noise that DOGE caused early in the winter and spring, was when Trump's tariffs, trade war, and "big beautiful bill" took center stage.

Musk and DOGE fought valiantly to bring about real efficiencies and spending cuts to the government. But the achievements they were able to make are getting overshadowed by the spending boondoggle that Republicans are slowly pushing through Congress at the behest of the White House.

Musk found billions in savings and identified countless examples of fraud and waste. However, he's doing that at a time when Congress is bent on pushing through trillions of dollars in new spending. That's called fighting uphill while an avalanche crashes down on you.

Additionally, Musk is one of the preeminent CEOs of big tech in American industry. The trade war with China has had a significant impact on him because many of the electronic components he uses are sourced from that country. Tariffs, trade restrictions, and more make it much harder for Musk's products to reach his customer's hands.

When the tariffs and trade war first kicked off, Musk referred to one of Trump's trade advisors, Peter Navarro, as "Peter Retarrdo" and "dumber than a sack of bricks." These aren't the kinds of comments you want optically if you're in the Trump White House.

And so, ever since these scrapes, Musk's extroverted position in the White House has quieted down. He's exiting that role, and Washington D.C., at the same time. It's back to going to Mars, building the best electric cars on the market, and running X/Twitter.

In truth, it is one of the sadder exits from the White House because Musk is genuinely one of the most brilliant men of his generation. His drive to reinvent the world is sorely needed in an outdated federal government and in need of reform. An overhaul is required, and Musk has the right vision.

It's not all over. DOGE will continue forward, as did its predecessor agency. But the animating factor behind it —the man with the will and drive to force the government to adapt or die —is gone. It doesn't feel like DOGE will be a priority without Musk at the helm, especially with Trump turning towards his "big beautiful bill."

The "big beautiful bill" is where we see Musk and Trump truly break ranks. Musk accurately calls it nothing more than pork. It's spending on spending, with none of the finalized DOGE cuts recommended.

Some of the cuts will stick, at least for a while. Reducing the headcount of the federal government is a real thing, especially when the decision is made not to backfill a position. However, the broader cuts promised don't seem likely to come to fruition.

America still needs Elon Musk and men like him because they help change the country's direction and make it better. But I fully understand why he is leaving and his frustrations. It's the same complaints Republicans have had about their representatives for decades: promises of smaller government but little action on that front.

Welcome to the club, Elon Musk. You did a good job with what you were given, but you've also got a t-shirt, just like the rest of us.