CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten revealed a dramatic shift in Elon Musk’s popularity. In 2017, Ipsos polling showed Musk at +24 net favourability in the US. Now? He’s sunk to –19.
🦸 “Political kryptonite”
Enten didn’t mince words:
“He became political kryptonite.”
Among Democrats, Musk’s net score plunged from +35 in 2017 to a stunning –91 today. That’s fuel for any politician to pull back support.
🏛️ Trump cools on his once-favourite tech titan
Enten tracked Donald Trump’s Truth Social mentions of Musk. From Inauguration Day until 4 April, Trump “loved talking” about him—posting roughly 40 times. Since 5 April, he’s posted… zero.
🤔 Why the retreat?
Enten explains:
“Donald Trump knows brands very well. He knows political brands, and he knows Elon Musk’s political brand’s time had run out, and therefore, Elon Musk is taking a step back from politics.”
The same applies to Tesla, which now eyes a Musk successor amid Q1 revenue dips.
⚖️ Unpopularity’s cost
When your net favourability slides below water, allies vanish. Musk’s retreat from political spending underlines how quickly public sentiment can shift—and how even the biggest names can become liabilities.
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