Linda Yaccarino, the chief of Elon Musk’s social media platform X, has announced her departure after two years in the role. This decision comes during a tumultuous time for X, previously known as Twitter, which has faced scrutiny over antisemitic content produced by its AI chatbot, Grok, since its acquisition by Musk’s venture, xAI, in March. Yaccarino thanked Musk for entrusting her with the responsibilities of the position, but the reasons behind her resignation remain unclear.

During her tenure, Yaccarino aimed to repair the platform’s advertising relationships, which had suffered after Musk’s takeover. However, many analysts suggested that her actual influence within the company was limited and referred to her as chief executive in name only. Musk’s continued presence and the unpredictable nature of his leadership may have contributed to the challenges she faced.

Under Yaccarino’s leadership, X shifted its tone towards more right-leaning content, contrasting with its previous left-leaning stance. Despite her efforts, including a lawsuit against an advertising industry group, restoring X’s reputation among advertisers proved difficult. Emarketer analysts expect the platform’s advertising business might return to growth, but the complexities surrounding this recovery cannot be overlooked.

Yaccarino’s resignation aligns with a series of challenges Musk is currently confronting, including declining sales at Tesla and a recent public dispute with former ally, US President Donald Trump. As X continues to attract controversy, including the generative AI issues with Grok, questions about the platform’s future and its leadership remain at the forefront.