Decline in Musk’s Popularity Amid Rising Influence in Washington, Reveals AP-NORC Poll

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk, once hailed as a tech visionary, is seeing his popularity slip. A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that only 33% of U.S. adults view him favorably, down from 41% in December.

Many people feel Musk has taken too much influence in Washington. Around two-thirds of adults think he’s overstepped in his role, especially with President Trump’s agenda to reduce the size of the federal government. Musk is expected to step back from his administration role soon, signaling a possible shift in his influence.

Musk’s popularity is notably lower compared to the general support for government downsizing. While many view the federal workforce as too big, opinions are split on how far Trump should go in reducing it. About half of the population thinks he has gone too far, while a tiny fraction supports deeper cuts.

Susan Wolf, a 75-year-old retiree from Pennsylvania, expressed her doubts about Musk’s approach, saying, “He thinks you run a government like you run a business. And you don’t do that.” She highlights a crucial difference: one serves the public, the other focuses on profit.

Musk’s work in the government has been driven by his initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at cutting thousands of federal jobs. Although he aimed for drastic budget cuts of $1 trillion, his current target sits at $150 billion, a challenging goal that many doubt he can meet.

As Musk prepares to refocus on Tesla—a company facing declining revenue—he acknowledges the need to limit his time in government. He stated that the major establishment work for DOGE is complete and plans to reduce his involvement to just a couple of days per week.

Historically, Musk leaned towards progressive ideas, advocating for climate action and often supporting Democratic candidates. Recently, however, he has shifted to embrace more conservative views, warning against “the woke mind virus” and criticizing government spending and migration issues. His polling numbers reflect this political evolution: about 70% of independents and nearly 90% of Democrats believe he holds too much power, while only 40% of Republicans share that concern.

Mark Collins, a warehouse manager from Michigan, represents the Republican sentiment, stating, “He’s cleaning up all the trash.” This divergence illustrates the split in public trust and perception of Musk’s role in government.

With less than a third of U.S. adults holding a positive view of him, Musk seems to be at a pivotal moment. His ability to maintain influence in Washington and restore his reputation may depend on how well he navigates this political landscape.

The AP-NORC poll, conducted April 17-21, included 1,260 adults, providing a representative snapshot of opinions across the U.S. The margin of error is ±3.9 percentage points.

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Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Public opinion, District of Columbia, Department of Government Efficiency, General news, Susan Wolf, U.S. Democratic Party, U.S. Republican Party, Government and politics, United States government, Business, Washington news, Ernest Pereira, Mark Collins, Washington News, Politics