Tesla Denies CEO Replacement Rumors After Report Sparks Controversy

A Wall Street Journal report published on May 1, 2025, shook the EV world with a major claim: Tesla’s board was allegedly exploring options to replace CEO Elon Musk.

According to the article, unnamed sources suggested that some board members were concerned about Musk’s growing focus on politics, particularly his ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Tesla’s recent business challenges—including sliding sales and stock volatility.

The reaction was immediate.

Tesla’s board chair, Robyn Denholm, issued a strong public statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling the report “absolutely false” and expressing full confidence in Musk’s leadership. Elon Musk himself followed up, labeling the article a “deliberately false article” and accusing the Journal of publishing without including Tesla’s denial.

“The WSJ deliberately did not include our full on-the-record denial before publishing,” Musk wrote. “Typical hit piece.”

Despite the swift rebuttal, the story raised eyebrows and reignited long-standing debates around Musk’s ability to juggle multiple high-profile ventures—Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, X (formerly Twitter), and more.

The timing is also notable. Tesla has been under pressure in 2025 following increased EV competition, price cuts, and a cooling demand in some regions. Investors have questioned whether Musk’s attention is spread too thin, and whether it might be time for a new phase of leadership.

Still, for now, Tesla insists Elon Musk is not going anywhere.

Whether the Journal’s report had merit or not, the incident is another reminder of the intense spotlight Musk—and Tesla—continue to operate under. In the fast-moving EV world, headlines like this can ripple fast. But for now, Musk’s grip on Tesla appears as strong as ever.

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