- Elon Musk’s favorability amongst Republicans dropped 16 factors following his public feud with Trump.
- Musk apologized for harsh posts, whereas Trump signaled he’s open to transferring on.
- Regardless of criticism, 80% of Republicans approve of Musk’s work as DOGE chief.
The as soon as fiery trade between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk appears to be fading, with each side displaying indicators of reconciliation. Nonetheless, the general public conflict seems to have taken a toll on Musk’s popularity—particularly amongst Republican voters.
In accordance with a brand new Quinnipiac College nationwide ballot, 62% of Republicans now view Musk favorably, down from 78% in March. Amongst all voters, solely 30% held a positive view of Musk, whereas 57% seen him unfavorably. This means that whereas Musk stays fashionable in GOP circles, his general picture has been dented by latest controversies.
From Political Ally to White Home Insider—and Critic
Musk had been a distinguished backer of Trump’s 2024 marketing campaign, turning into the highest donor of the election cycle by contributing almost $300 million by a brilliant PAC. He was additionally appointed to guide the newly shaped Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), the place he served for 4 months.
Regardless of this shut alliance, tensions exploded shortly after Musk exited the White Home. He publicly criticized Trump’s huge spending invoice—dubbed the “One Huge Lovely Invoice“—calling it a “disgusting abomination” and blaming it for probably ballooning nationwide debt. Musk additionally implied Trump wouldn’t have gained reelection with out his backing.
Musk Apologizes, Trump Performs It Cool
The scenario intensified when Musk posted—and later deleted—unfounded claims concerning Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. On June 12, Musk issued a public apology, saying, “I remorse a few of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump final week. They went too far.”
Trump addressed the apology throughout a podcast interview and later advised reporters he hadn’t given it a lot thought. “Issues like that occur. I don’t blame him for something,” he stated, signaling no quick grudge.
GOP Nonetheless Approves of Musk’s DOGE Efficiency
Regardless of the drama, Musk’s efficiency at DOGE obtained excessive marks from Republican voters. The Quinnipiac ballot discovered that 80% of Republicans thought Musk did a wonderful or good job in his position, whereas solely 13% rated his tenure poorly. Amongst all voters, nonetheless, solely 38% seen his work at DOGE positively.
Polling analyst Tim Malloy summarized it finest: “Although Musk isn’t as fashionable with Republicans as he as soon as was, he and DOGE get a hearty excessive 5 from a wholesome majority of Republicans.”