Elon's Influence: Political Losses, Tesla's Troubles, and SNL Spotlight

Elon Musk BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Elon Musk has been at the center of multiple high-profile developments over the past few days. On April 5, protesters gathered in Washington, D.C., and across the U.S. for the “Hands Off!” rallies, criticizing both Musk and President Donald Trump. Musk, who has been serving as an advisor and overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), faces backlash for his role in championing government cutbacks, including layoffs and plans to dissolve the Department of Education. Demonstrators targeted these efforts, aligning them with broader concerns about human rights and environmental policies, making Musk a lightning rod for dissent.

Politically, Musk experienced a high-profile defeat in Wisconsin's state Supreme Court race. He heavily backed the Republican candidate, Brad Schimel, even contributing over $20 million to the campaign, which he described as crucial for “the future of civilization.” However, the liberal candidate, Susan Crawford, ultimately prevailed, maintaining a progressive majority on the court. Musk later downplayed the loss, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that he "expected to lose" and saw it as a “positional gain” in a broader chess-like strategy. His foray into political endorsements has raised questions about his influence and effectiveness in shaping electoral outcomes.

On the business front, Tesla faced a rocky quarter, with a reported 13% drop in sales for the first three months of 2025. This decline comes amidst stiffening competition in the electric vehicle market and challenges tied to Musk’s own comments about potential advancements in Tesla’s AI capabilities, which, while exciting, have left investors wary due to a lack of concrete details. Musk also publicly renewed his hope for a tariff-free future between the U.S. and Europe during a recent interview, signaling his continued focus on fostering global trade.

Meanwhile, Musk’s media presence remains as influential as ever. On April 5, he was parodied on *Saturday Night Live*, where Mike Myers portrayed him in a sketch poking fun at Tesla’s struggles and Musk’s close ties to Trump’s tariff policies. This capped off a week of heightened public scrutiny, further solidifying Musk’s status as a polarizing yet unmissable figure in both politics and business.

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