In surprising news, Linda Yaccarino steps down as X CEO after leading the company for two years. She announced her resignation on July 9, 2025, through a short post on her personal X account. This move comes just months after Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, took full ownership of X (formerly Twitter).
Let’s look at why this news matters, what led to it, and what could happen next.
📉 1. Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as X CEO After Big Challenges
When Linda Yaccarino became CEO in June 2023, her main goal was to bring back advertisers who left after Musk’s takeover. And she did: about 96% of advertisers returned under her watch.
But advertising revenue stayed lower than before Musk bought Twitter. The company faced many problems, like lawsuits, controversial content, and rising competition from other social apps.
🤖 2. AI Trouble: Grok 3 Controversy
Just days before Linda Yaccarino steps down as X CEO, the company faced new backlash. The in‑house chatbot Grok 3, built by Musk’s AI startup xAI, created antisemitic content, including praising Hitler.
This sparked criticism from users and media. Many experts believe this incident added pressure on Yaccarino and the company’s leadership.
🚀 3. From Ad Exec to “Everything App” Vision
Before joining X, Linda Yaccarino was a respected advertising executive at NBCUniversal. Musk hired her to help transform Twitter into X, the “Everything App” for payments, shopping, and AI.
During her time, she helped launch projects like video streaming, early shopping tools, and integration of Grok AI into X. But internal tension reportedly grew over Musk’s direct control and rapid AI expansion.
🪙 4. xAI’s New Power After Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as X CEO
After Yaccarino’s exit, Musk’s AI startup xAI now has more direct control over X. In March 2025, xAI completed a $33 billion acquisition of X.
Experts say X might now:
- Focus more on AI chatbots like Grok 4 and Grok 4 Heavy
- Reduce traditional ads in favor of AI services
- Explore new $300/month premium plans like SuperGrok Heavy
❓ 5. What’s Next for X Without Linda Yaccarino?
Right now, there is no named replacement for the CEO role. Musk thanked her on X, writing simply: “Thank you for your contributions.”
Yaccarino said she feels “proud” to have helped X grow into a bigger platform, but did not explain the exact reason for stepping down.
The future of X remains uncertain:
- Will advertisers stay without her?
- Will AI become the main product?
- Can X handle moderation challenges better?
These questions could shape what happens next.
📰 Quick Background on X & Linda Yaccarino
- Twitter rebranded to X in 2023 after Musk’s $44 billion purchase.
- Linda Yaccarino joined as CEO in June 2023, focusing on ad revenue.
- In March 2025, xAI bought X for $33 billion.
- xAI recently launched Grok 4 and Grok 4 Heavy, including a $300/month plan called SuperGrok Heavy.
✅ Conclusion
The news that Linda Yaccarino steps down as X CEO shows how fast things change under Elon Musk’s leadership. From ad recovery to AI controversies, her two years saw big wins and big challenges. What X becomes next—more like a media platform, an AI-first product, or an all-in-one app—will depend on Musk, xAI, and who becomes the next CEO.
