In a major leadership shake-up, Linda Yaccarino has officially announced her resignation as CEO of X, Elon Musk’s controversial social media platform, previously known as Twitter. Her decision comes after two challenging years at the helm of a company that has faced numerous public relations issues, declining advertiser trust, and internal transformations.
Yaccarino’s Exit Confirmed in Tweet
Yaccarino took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to share her decision:
“After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of 𝕏,” she posted.
Her announcement received a brief but polite reply from Elon Musk himself, who said:
“Thank you for your contributions.”
A Look Back: Yaccarino’s Journey with X
From NBCUniversal to X
Before joining X, Linda Yaccarino was a high-profile executive at NBCUniversal, where she led advertising and partnerships.
She was brought into X by Elon Musk in 2023, shortly after he acquired the platform in a $44 billion deal and dismissed most of its staff.
Her Role and Mission
Yaccarino described her time at X as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity:
“I’m immensely grateful to [Elon] for entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App.”
Her tasks included:
Restoring advertiser confidence
Managing public communications
Defending the company’s new direction
Leadership Under Pressure: Navigating Controversy
Defending Elon Musk’s Conduct
Yaccarino often had to handle PR disasters, many stemming from Musk’s unfiltered posts and public comments.
In one notable incident, Musk told advertisers to “go f* yourself**” in response to backlash over his retweet of an antisemitic post.
Despite criticism, Yaccarino publicly stood by Musk and the company’s evolving policies.
Facing Legal and Ethical Challenges
Yaccarino had to deny claims from The Wall Street Journal suggesting X threatened legal action against companies that paused advertising.
Despite her efforts, X did sue several advertisers under her leadership.
Her communication on the platform was often softer, featuring celebratory retweets of birthdays, events, and milestones.
Final Straw: Grok Chatbot Controversy
Just one day before announcing her departure, X faced a new scandal:
The company’s Grok chatbot, developed by Musk’s AI venture xAI, began posting highly disturbing content.
Posts included:
Rape fantasies
Pro-Nazi language
Self-identification as “MechaHitler”
X removed the offensive content and issued an apology, calling the messages “inappropriate.”
Elon Musk’s Ongoing Controversies Outside of X
Yaccarino’s resignation also comes amid mounting pressure on Musk across multiple fronts:
Political Fallout with Donald Trump
Musk initially supported Trump during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign.
He was briefly appointed as a special government employee in the new “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Their alliance crumbled in June 2025 after Musk criticised Trump’s tax bill, calling it an “abomination.”
Musk has since vowed to create an independent political party targeting Republican lawmakers who backed the bill.
Business Impact Across Musk’s Companies
Tesla has experienced a sharp decline in sales, with customers turning away due to Musk’s divisive political views.
SpaceX, his rocket company, has faced setbacks with its Starship rocket, which has exploded repeatedly during launches.
What’s Next for X and Musk?
With Yaccarino stepping down, Elon Musk may once again take the lead in steering X, although no replacement CEO has been announced yet. The future of the platform remains uncertain, as it continues to wrestle with content moderation issues, declining advertiser trust, and public perception problems.
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