Elon Musk often warns that America is on the brink of apocalyptic collapse, declaring that his avalanche of spending to elect Republicans and his role in the Trump administration are essential to steering, as he said in late March, “the course of Western civilization.”

But lately he seems to be having a change of heart.

Mr. Musk, the world’s richest person, has signaled that he wants to turn back to his business empire. He has made himself increasingly scarce in Washington. And months after he served as the 2024 election’s biggest donor, he said on Tuesday that he planned to spend “a lot less” in future elections.

It was the latest sign that Mr. Musk is fading into the background of American politics — at least for now.

“In terms of political spending, I’m going to do a lot less in the future,” the tech titan said as he appeared virtually for a combative interview with Bloomberg News at the Qatar Economic Forum. “I think I’ve done enough.”

Asked if his thinking stemmed from the “blowback” he had faced for helping to guide the Trump administration — a role that has created wide-ranging conflicts of interest — Mr. Musk dodged the question and left the door open for future outlays on elections.

“If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it,” he said. “But I don’t currently see a reason.”