By Tim Stelloh -
NBC News
Elon Musk will step down as CEO of the social network Twitter when he finds someone "dumb" enough to replace him, he said in a tweet Tuesday.
But the billionaire clarified that, if he leaves his current position, he will still lead the company to lead the software (computer) and server teams.
His announcement comes two days after he posted an informal poll on Twitter asking users if he should step down.
Musk vowed to abide by the results.
With more than 17.5 million votes cast, 57.5% thought Musk should step down
.
Just under 42% said he should stay.
Elon Musk's official Twitter account in an image from April 2022. Eric Risberg / AP
Musk, whose $44 billion acquisition of the company was finalized in October, said in court in November that he hoped to reduce his role in decision-making at Twitter and find someone else to run the company "over time." .
After posting the survey, Musk tweeted: “No one wants the job that can actually keep Twitter alive.
There is no successor."
[Elon Musk alleges personal security reasons to suspend accounts of US journalists]
His announcement follows a host of criticisms of the way the company has been run since it sealed the deal, including mass layoffs, the suspension of journalists' accounts and a ban on posting links to other social media platforms.
Elon Musk agrees to resume the accounts of the journalists he had ordered to deactivate on Twitter
Dec 18, 202200:25
Musk, who describes himself as a "free speech absolutist," later apologized for the linking move, saying he would not make major changes to Twitter without a vote.
Three minutes later he asked the network users if he should resign.
