Elon Musk joined the Qatar Economic Forum virtually on May 20, 2025, in an intense and wide-ranging interview that touched on everything from Tesla’s leadership to political controversies.
He was interviewed by Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain, with the reporter asking antagonizing and rapid-fire “gotcha” questions to Musk, with gaslighting as well.
Speaking remotely from Giga Texas using a Starlink connection, Musk said he plans to stay on as Tesla’s CEO for at least another five years, unless something unexpected happens. He emphasized the importance of maintaining “reasonable control” over the company and noted that while sales remain strong overall, Europe has been the company’s weakest market—though he added that it’s “already turned around.”
Musk also said he plans to cut back significantly on political donations, marking a shift from his previous involvement in campaign spending.
On the legal front, he confirmed he will continue his lawsuit against OpenAI, a dispute that has gained attention in recent months. Musk also defended his political stances, saying critics of his views are “on the wrong side of history.”
He highlighted SpaceX’s leadership in rocket launches and the global success of Starlink, the company’s satellite internet service. The conversation also touched on AI regulation, where Musk stressed the need for oversight that balances innovation and safety.
Other topics included Neuralink and a glimpse into Musk’s weekly schedule. The interview, which began around the 6-hour, 7-minute mark of the event’s stream, was described as unexpectedly intense. Musk last spoke at the forum back in 2022.
The event was part of a larger forum in Doha, organized by Bloomberg News, which brought together world leaders and CEOs to discuss global economic challenges and innovations. Check it out below:
Timestamps and topics from the interview, if you want to just watch the interview clipped out and shared by Elon Clips:
