In a revealing trend, Elon Musks popularity among the American public is witnessing a noticeable decline, as indicated by the latest polling averages from Nate Silvers Silver Bulletin. Since 2020, Musk, the billionaire CEO known for his influential roles in companies like Tesla and SpaceX, has also taken on the challenging role of leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This organization has become known for its aggressive approach in reshaping the administrative landscape of the U.S. government.

The recent data reflects that only 39.6% of Americans currently view Musk favorably, contrasting sharply with the 53.5% who hold an unfavorable opinion. This marks a significant shift from early 2024 when the unfavorable rating stood at just 38%. Nate Silver, a veteran statistician and political analyst, notes that his methodology for tracking Musks popularity mirrors his approach to monitoring former President Trumps ratings. However, Silver has opted for slightly more conservative settings due to the less frequent polling on Musk compared to Trump.

One contributing factor to this increase in unpopularity appears to stem from Musks vocal support for Trumps second presidential campaign. Reports indicate that Musk has been involved in efforts that include financially incentivizing voters, which has garnered mixed reactions from the public. Moreover, his role at DOGE has raised additional eyebrows, particularly as the organization has been linked to substantial federal layoffs. DOGE operatives are reportedly trying to penetrate sensitive areas of the government, including IRS records, the payment systems of the U.S. Treasury, and the operations of the Social Security Administration.

While Nate Silvers tracking might be one of the more comprehensive analyses available, it is not the sole source highlighting Musk's declining favorability. Major news outlets such as Fox News, Politico, and Axios have also reported on similar polling results, alluding to a growing dissatisfaction among the American populace regarding Musk's influence and actions within the government.