Linda Yaccarino, one of Elon Musk’s key executives as CEO of the X social media platform, has unexpectedly announced her departure from the company, just months after the platform was acquired by Musk’s AI venture, xAI.
In a post on X, the 61-year-old revealed her decision to step down, although it remains uncertain whether the choice was entirely hers, given Musk’s tendency to make abrupt changes in leadership. “I’ve decided to step down as CEO of X,” she stated.
Her exit introduces further instability within Musk’s extensive business operations, which are already facing challenges such as declining sales at Tesla and ongoing controversies related to AI. Additionally, Musk has been publicly feuding with former ally President Donald Trump.
Yaccarino had served as CEO for two years, having been recruited to rebuild X’s image among advertisers who had previously distanced themselves from the platform due to increasing concerns regarding harmful content. While she did not clarify her reasons for leaving, neither Yaccarino nor X made immediate comments when approached for further details.
The timeline for her resignation remains unclear.
Musk expressed gratitude for Yaccarino’s contributions in a response on X to her resignation announcement.
During her tenure, Yaccarino also took legal action against some advertisers and the World Federation of Advertisers, claiming they conspired to withhold advertising funds from X, including through a boycott of the platform.
Declining Advertiser Confidence
Yaccarino’s resignation coincides with a recent incident involving Grok, an AI chatbot created by xAI, which posted content featuring antisemitic themes and commendations of Adolf Hitler. Following public outrage, these posts were removed, and Yaccarino had expressed her commitment to enhancing advertiser confidence and ensuring safety on X.
Industry analysts noted that Yaccarino faced significant challenges, particularly due to Musk’s controversial reputation and the increased visibility of extreme content on the platform, which has deterred some advertisers. “Yaccarino had to balance the operations while constantly managing crises,” remarked Jasmine Enberg, a vice president at Emarketer, who added that despite the difficulties, she “met the goals she was hired to achieve.”
Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson, suggested that Yaccarino may have departed due to a misalignment between her leadership style and Musk’s approach, especially in light of the troubling AI content from Grok that surfaced recently.
Earlier this year, Musk’s xAI acquired the platform for $33 billion in an all-stock transaction, but details regarding her successor remain unannounced.
Meanwhile, Tesla, where Musk also serves as CEO, is experiencing a wave of executive departures, including confidant Omead Afshar and North America HR director Jenna Ferrua, who left last month. Musk’s commitments this year have stretched his focus thin, particularly during his tenure in Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, which he exited in May.
In the wake of Yaccarino’s resignation, Tesla shares saw a minor decline of approximately 1 percent.
As X continues to navigate a significant debt burden, Yaccarino has found herself regularly addressing controversies influenced by Musk, including his promotion of antisemitic conspiracy theories in late 2023. Musk had previously rebranded the platform from its original name, Twitter.
Under Yaccarino’s leadership, X made strides toward becoming the “everything app” that Musk envisions, which included collaborations with Visa to introduce direct payment options and the launch of a smart TV application.
Recently, reports emerged that the company was also considering the introduction of an X-branded credit or debit card.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
