Elon Musk isn’t just creating tensions within Trump’s administration—he’s also dragging down the government’s popularity in the polls.
Musk’s AI on X Backs Democrats: “Data Matters More Than Political Affiliations”
More pressure, more noise, and more distractions. The image of Donald Trump posing with Elon Musk and a Tesla at the White House was more than an unexpected rebranding of the electric car as a symbol of Trumpism. It was a strategic move to prop up Musk at a time when even Trump’s allies are starting to see him as a misfit within the administration.
Just five days earlier, Musk’s aggressive push to downsize the federal government sparked an internal firestorm. In a tense closed-door meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly clashed with the billionaire. According to The New York Times, Musk accused Rubio of not firing enough government employees, to which Rubio fired back, stating that over 1,500 officials had already taken voluntary buyouts. As the argument escalated, Trump remained silent until he finally stepped in to defuse the situation, urging his team to cooperate with Musk.
But Rubio isn’t the only one frustrated with Musk. Several members of Trump’s cabinet and Republican lawmakers have privately expressed their discontent. Even White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has long voiced her concerns. When Musk unilaterally dismantled the USAID international aid agency, Wiles criticized the lack of coordination. According to White House sources cited by Reuters, she confronted Musk directly: “We need to communicate all of this. We need to be informed.”
Musk: The White House’s “Rogue Element”
If there’s one thing that sets Musk apart in Trump’s administration, it’s his unconventional approach. Even Trump himself has never worn a MAGA cap inside the Oval Office—but Musk did, during his first joint appearance with the president. In the more than fifty days of the Trump administration, Musk has only been seen wearing a suit once: during Trump’s speech before Congress.
Despite the internal tensions, Trump continues to defend Musk. In an attempt to downplay the controversy, he took to Truth Social, posting: “ELON AND MARCO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP! ANY CLAIM TO THE CONTRARY IS FAKE NEWS!!!” Musk, for his part, tried to ease tensions with Rubio by sharing a post on X endorsing the secretary’s statements about Starlink in Ukraine.
However, Musk’s image continues to take a hit. Among his thousands of daily tweets, one stood out this week: a modified version of the European Union flag featuring a hammer and sickle at its center. The post criticized EU bureaucracy with the caption: “Imagine loving being governed so much that you want a government for your government.”
A Drag in the Polls
The friction Musk is causing within the administration is also impacting public opinion. Beyond the Tesla boycott—a protest against Musk’s role in Trump’s government—polls show a growing backlash against the billionaire.
A CNN/SSRS poll released this week found that 53% of Americans have a negative opinion of Musk, while only 35% view him favorably. Additionally, 62% believe he lacks the experience and judgment to make government reforms, and 61% distrust his decision-making, even among those who support cutting bureaucracy.
Until now, Musk had been positioned as the leader of the Department of Government Optimization and Efficiency (DOGE). However, in recent weeks, the White House has begun taking legal steps to limit his authority. First, a judicial document stated that Musk is not the legal administrator of DOGE. Then, Trump signed an executive order clarifying that cabinet secretaries—not Musk—would oversee government downsizing, with Musk relegated to an advisory role.
Yet, despite these official changes, Musk is still widely perceived as the mastermind behind the administration’s mass layoffs, foreign aid cuts, and funding freezes. The poll also shows that 55% of Americans believe Musk’s cuts will have a negative impact on the economy, and 51% fear they will directly harm their families. Only 34% think the measures will benefit the country, and even fewer (22%) believe they will improve their local communities.
With Musk increasingly seen as a liability, the big question remains: how long will Trump stand by him if his presence becomes a threat to reelection?
