Elon Musk Missed Chance to Transform US Government, Says Biographer

Elon Musk’s bold entry into the US government under Donald Trump was expected to bring sweeping reforms, but according to his biographer Walter Isaacson, the billionaire’s own approach prevented him from creating the long-term impact he was capable of. In a recent interview, Isaacson said it was “a shame” that Musk, despite his intelligence and influence, did not focus on fixing the issues he was best equipped to address.

Isaacson, whose 2023 biography Elon Musk offered a detailed look into the tech mogul’s life, completed his work before Musk joined Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The new cabinet-level office was created to reduce federal spending, streamline agencies and cut regulatory burdens. The biographer noted that Musk had long been interested in public service and had shifted dramatically from being an Obama supporter to embracing a deeply anti-woke and populist worldview.

According to Isaacson, Musk’s strong personal views, especially about social issues such as his daughter’s transition — which Musk described as part of a “woke mind virus” — played a key role in shaping his political evolution. By the time Trump returned to the White House in 2025, Musk had become one of the former president’s most influential backers, donating millions, appearing at campaign rallies and promoting ideas such as a “government efficiency commission.”

When Musk was appointed senior adviser and placed in charge of DOGE, expectations skyrocketed. Many believed he would bring the same disruptive innovation he applied at SpaceX and Tesla to the federal system. But Isaacson argues that Musk’s tenure went off course because he chose to reorganize agencies aggressively, fire staff rapidly and pursue changes without understanding the complexities of government operations.

The biographer said Musk could have made a transformative impact by focusing on inefficiencies at the Pentagon, addressing procurement failures or modernizing federal projects. Instead, he pursued aggressive reshuffling that created chaos rather than progress. “Had he focused on what he's good at… he could have changed government for good,” Isaacson said, adding that Musk’s actions weren’t aligned with the skills that made him successful in the private sector.

Musk’s decisions inside the administration drew mixed reactions from the public and experts alike. When a user on X criticized Isaacson for failing to recognize Musk’s deeper motivations, the billionaire responded directly, saying, “I need to tell my story myself and highlight lessons that I learned along the way that would be useful to others.” His comments hinted at a future memoir or public statement where he may share his version of events.

Musk’s political journey has been equally dramatic. Once a donor to Democratic candidates, he shifted sharply right by 2024, becoming one of Trump’s strongest allies. His role in DOGE was marked by aggressive cost-cutting, transparency dashboards displaying government waste and sweeping staff reorganizations. But despite the ambition, Musk stepped down from the role in May this year, saying the department’s mission would “only strengthen over time.”

Just months later, Musk surprised the political world again by launching a new political movement — the America Party — calling it a fresh alternative to Republicans and Democrats. He said the two-party system was broken and promised that his new party would “give you back your freedom.”

As debates continue around Musk’s influence, Isaacson’s remarks have reignited discussion about whether the world’s richest man truly missed his chance to change the US government — or whether his impact is still unfolding in ways yet to be seen.