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Recent polling data indicates that Elon Musk’s standing among the American populace is diminishing, as highlighted by the latest average from Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin. Musk, the chief executive of numerous enterprises, has recently gained prominence primarily through his role as the public face of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at reforming the US government’s administrative systems.
The findings from Silver Bulletin reveal that 53.5% of the American public currently holds an unfavorable opinion of Musk, while only 39.6% express a favorable view. This marks a notable decline in popularity compared to earlier this year, when only 38% reported negative feelings towards him. Silver asserts that his methodology for tracking Musk’s approval ratings mirrors that of former President Trump, albeit with somewhat more conservative parameters due to less frequent polling of Musk.
The rise in negative sentiments towards Musk has been particularly pronounced following his overt backing of Trump’s second presidential campaign, which included financial support for voters, and his recent activities associated with DOGE. This initiative has led to significant layoffs across various federal agencies and raised concerns as DOGE operatives sought access to critical governmental sectors, including IRS data, the payment systems of the US Treasury, and the Social Security Administration.
Further corroborating the findings from Silver Bulletin, other media outlets such as Fox News, Politico, and Axios have all noted a similar downward trend in Musk’s favorability ratings.
This shift in public perception may have already influenced political dynamics, particularly in Wisconsin, where Musk’s recent attempt to support a conservative Supreme Court candidate backfired. His strategy, which involved incentivizing voter turnout using methods reminiscent of his Trump campaign tactics, faced backlash. Polling indicated that over half of Wisconsin voters disapproved of Musk’s intervention, with about a third stating it decreased their likelihood of supporting the conservative candidate. Ultimately, Democrat-backed Susan Crawford triumphed by a margin of 10 points, thereby maintaining a liberal majority on the state’s highest court.
Source
www.theverge.com