Tesla chair remains silent amid backlash to Musk's political activities

The big picture: In contrast to Musk, Denholm largely shuns the spotlight and isn't outwardly political.

• She hasn't posted on X in more than a year and rarely gives interviews.

Driving the news: Faced with questions at a conference in Australia Tuesday about whether "she was concerned about Musk's apparent right-wing allegiances, or his opposition to diversity and inclusion initiatives," Denholm "said nothing," Bloomberg reported.

• "Asked if she had a message for Tesla shareholders, she didn't respond," the newswire added.
• Also, "a woman accompanying Denholm as she entered the conference venue said they wouldn't comment or respond to any questions."

The intrigue: Denholm has been selling Tesla stock in heaps recently.

• She's sold more than $117 million in shares over the last three months in a pre-approved trading arrangement, Fortune reported in early March.

What they're saying: Denholm and Tesla did not respond to Axios requests for comment.

Flashback: Denholm was appointed chair of Tesla in 2018 after Musk agreed to relinquish the post in a Securities and Exchange Commission settlement over his claim that the then-struggling company had secured funding to go private.

• Since then she has publicly supported Musk on range of issues, from his use of social media in 2019 to lobbying shareholders to approve the CEO's $56 billion pay package last year.

State of play: During her tenure, the company's valuation has skyrocketed.

• But Tesla sales have plunged in 2025 in certain markets in a blowback to Musk's role in President Trump's administration.
• The company's sales fell 49% in Europe in the first two months of 2025, compared with a year earlier, AP reported Tuesday.