Linda Yaccarino Resigns as X CEO Amid Internal Struggles and Advertiser Exodus

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San Francisco / New York, July 9, 2025 – Linda Yaccarino has officially resigned as CEO of X Corp., formerly known as Twitter, after a tenure defined by volatility, advertiser challenges, and internal power tensions.

“After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of X,” Yaccarino posted on the platform. Her abrupt departure comes amid mounting scrutiny over platform moderation policies, declining ad revenues, and growing friction with company owner Elon Musk.

Hired in May 2023, Yaccarino was tasked with restoring advertiser confidence and stabilizing the company’s commercial direction. But from the start, she operated within a constrained environment, often viewed as CEO in title only while Musk continued to steer key decisions behind the scenes.

During her leadership, X underwent major shifts, including the controversial rollout of AI chatbot Grok, whose extremist outputs sparked backlash. New subreddit-style moderation policies and inconsistent enforcement further alienated advertisers, prompting widespread pullouts.

“She was set up to fail by a limited scope… Musk remains at the helm in all but name,” commented Forrester analyst Mike Proulx.

Though her tenure brought moments of optimism, such as brief advertiser returns and product experimentation, it was undercut by ongoing reputational damage and strategic ambiguity. The lack of a named successor and a defined leadership plan further compounds the company’s instability.

Elon Musk reacted with a terse acknowledgment: “Thank you for your contributions,” offering no roadmap for what’s next.

Yaccarino’s exit underscores the uncertainty gripping X and its place in the Musk tech empire, which spans Tesla, xAI, and beyond. As X heads into another leadership vacuum, questions remain about the future of its business model, content policies, and executive governance.