Tesla has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming its board sought to replace Elon Musk as CEO amid concerns over falling sales and his political entanglements. Board chair Robyn Denholm called the story “absolutely false,” stating that Musk remains CEO and retains the board’s full confidence. Musk himself responded — predictably — in all caps.
It is an EXTREMELY BAD BREACH OF ETHICS that the @WSJ would publish a DELIBERATELY FALSE ARTICLE and fail to include an unequivocal denial beforehand by the Tesla board of directors! https://t.co/9xdypLGg3c
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 1, 2025
The WSJ cited unnamed “board members” who allegedly contacted recruiters a month ago. It’s unclear if they acted with board approval. The board includes Musk, his brother Kimbal, and James Murdoch. The report surfaced amid growing scrutiny over Musk’s political activity and time spent in Washington.
