Tesla profits have taken a plunge with the stock tumbling by more than 40 percent this year. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, on his company's earnings call on Tuesday, said that he will be stepping back from the White House DOGE office in May.

The world Musk returns to, however, is not the same one that he left to carry out President Donald Trump’s federal downsizing mission. And the richest man in the world may find his reception icy. After all, Tesla was built not only for tech enthusiasts but as a way to revolutionize transportation and address climate change.

Tesla announced quarterly earnings down 71 percent from a year earlier, amid tariff threats and protests over CEO Elon Musk’s role in pushing government cuts.

Elon Musk said he would keep doing part-time work for the Trump administration beyond next month, raising more questions about his role and whether the White House is following the rules.

Elon Musk says he will spend more time at Tesla, but the White House expects him to continue “dedicating a lot of his time”’ to supporting the president.