Maye Musk spoke to CBS Mornings about her son Elon Musk, describing him as a person who wants to do good but often faces criticism for his actions. She mentioned that he has been treated unfairly by the public and emphasized that he works towards what is best for America and the world. The interview touched on Musk's tenure in President Trump’s administration, his criticism of Trump afterward, and his current focus on projects like taking SpaceX public and encouraging data center construction.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
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Story summary
Maye Musk spoke with CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King on Wednesday about her son Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, describing him as a child who "just wants to do good in the world, but that means you stand on a lot of toes." During President Trump's second term, Elon Musk served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, where he overhauled government organizations and reduced funding for many programs, including global aid services. This led to criticism from both the public and within government circles. After leaving his position at the White House, Musk publicly criticized President Trump's policies online, resulting in a dispute that recently seems to have been resolved.
Written for “Elon Musk Controversies” on 2026-09-17,
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Maye Musk, the mother of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, opened up about raising the
and her own personal journey in an interview with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King on Wednesday.
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Musk → open → Wednesday
Musk recalled her son as a genius child who "just wants to do good in the world, but that means you stand on a lot of toes."
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you → recall → toes
She said she believes he's been treated unfairly by members of the public.
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he → say → public
And they're strangers, or they're not accomplished themselves, and then they can do insults," she said.
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she → accomplish → insults
"It makes me angry."
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me → make → ?
She said she wants people to know, "He does whatever is best for America and what's best for the world," adding, "And then, if we don't listen, then let's go to Mars" — his longtime goal for SpaceX.
Elon Musk drew frequent criticism
as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or , which overhauled government organizations and slashed funding for many programs, including global aid services, during the first months of President Trump's second term.
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which → say → term
Shortly after leaving the White House, Elon Musk blasted Mr. Trump online and criticized his " ," leading to from Mr. Trump and a .
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Musk → leave → Trump
Their relationship recently appears to have thawed.
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relationship → appear → ?
Since leaving the federal government, Elon Musk has
in the midterm elections and encouraged the construction of data centers.
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Musk → leave → centers
He also took his company SpaceX public, becoming the .
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He → take → SpaceX
He said in December 2025 that he likely over again, citing the negative public reaction.
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He → say → reaction
Maye Musk has said she knew from an early age that Elon was different.
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Elon → say → age
King noted he has said he's on the spectrum, and asked his mother if she agreed.
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she → note → mother
"Well, when I read 'the spectrum,' maybe on one of the points that he's a little awkward, yeah," she said.
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she → read → points
In her new memoir "Timeless," Musk writes about challenging years when she left what she describes as an abusive marriage with three young children.
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she → write → children
She and the children, including Elon, moved from South Africa to Canada, where she started her own practice as a dietitian.
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she → include → dietitian
"I didn't know it was possible," she said.
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she → know → ?
"Until you just have enough, and you run away.
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you → have → enough
Juggling parenting, her practice and her studies for her first master's degree was chaotic, she said.
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she → juggle → degree
She and the children lived in a one-bedroom apartment and "slept on a lot of couches and floors," she said.
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she → live → couches
Throughout it all, they never complained.
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they → complain → it
"I said to them, 'Why did you put up with that?'
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you → say → that
And they said, 'Well, if we complained, would you listen?'
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you → say → ?
And I said 'No,'" Musk recalled.
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Musk → say → ?
Decades later, Musk's grown children bought her an apartment in New York City.
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children → buy → City
That stability allowed her to reinvent herself again.
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her → allow → herself
She had worked as a model as a teen and done some modeling work part-time while she was earning her second master's degree.
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she → work → degree
But it was in her 70s that she really hit her prime.
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she → hit → prime
She became an iconic figure on runways and magazines, and became the oldest woman featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" in 2022.
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She → become → 2022
In her new memoir, Musk said she sees her age as a form of wisdom, not a barrier.
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she → say → wisdom
"You just get wiser and, you know, you can say no," Musk said.
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Musk → get → ?
"When you feel like you are right for something, you can put yourself forward."
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you → feel → yourself
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