In the U.S., the solid majority of women are, shall we say, less than enthused about Elon Musk.
Just 35% of American women rated the unelected head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) favorably, according to new polling data released this week by The Economist and YouGov. The rest, well…
This aligns with how the majority of Americans of all genders view Musk, who has become President Donald Trump’s unofficial second-in-command. The new study also finds a plurality of 48% of U.S. voters across the gender spectrum disapprove of Musk’s job performance since assuming his (made-up) role this past January.
Researchers at YouGov and The Economist found that Trump’s approval ratings are also going down, with 54% of voters assessing his performance thus far negatively – despite the fact that, just one month ago, a majority had approved of his work. Other surveys yielded similar findings: A 59% disapproval rating of Trump from those responding to Pew Research Center’s April 2025 poll, and a 53% disapproval rating from those who took part in Reuters/Ipsos poll.
These reviews of Trump appear to stem from his handling of the economy, with tariffs and resulting stock-market plunges sparking a crisis of confidence among even those who had once supported him. He attempted to mitigate some of the damage this week, while speaking with reporters at the White House. “We’re going to be making money with everyone, and everyone’s going to be happy,” he was quoted as saying by The New York Times.
When it comes to Musk, the disapproval is all about the cuts, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten told Newsweek.
The widespread layoffs and budget gashes have left an array of beneficial – and in some cases, vital – federal programs gutted. As a result, Musk’s approval rating is now “falling through the floor,” despite the fact that he “used to be beloved by Democrats” for his production of energy-efficient cars through his automotive company, Tesla.
“When you’re falling with Democrats, falling with independents, you’re giving up a large share of the market,” Enten noted, adding that the fall from grace is having its own economic ramifications – for Musk himself, whose auto company profits were 71% lower in the first quarter of 2025 than they were in 2024. “[T]hat is a big reason why Tesla is struggling – and Elon Musk is certainly at least driving a little bit of that.”
Seemingly as a result of this downfall – the financial one, that is, not the plummeting approval ratings – Musk announced to investors that he’s stepping back from his role running DOGE. “We’re not on the ragged edge of death, not even close,” he told them during a call this week.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll follow through, but the numbers point to that being the best course for everyone.
