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New polling data shows that a significant portion of Americans oppose Elon Musk’s involvement in government affairs, with many believing he should have little to no influence.
A CBS/YouGov poll released Sunday found that nearly half of respondents think Musk should have less influence over government spending and operations, and almost a third believe he should have none at all.
The survey revealed that 31 percent of Americans want Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) allies completely removed from government decision-making, while another 18 percent think they should have “not much” influence.
Support varied by party lines, with nearly 75 percent of Republicans supporting Musk’s role, compared to over two-thirds of Democrats who want his influence reduced or eliminated. These results add to a growing body of evidence showing that Americans are increasingly skeptical of Musk’s government involvement.
A separate Economist/YouGov poll released this week found that while 51 percent of Americans believe Musk already has a strong influence in government, only 13 percent think he should. Meanwhile, 46 percent of respondents said they don’t want him involved in government at all.
Another survey from Groundwork Collaborative and Public Citizen found that 54 percent of voters view Musk unfavorably, with a majority saying he has too much power and lacks sufficient oversight. Many respondents said their views worsened after learning about DOGE’s access to unclassified government data and the potential conflicts of interest involving Musk’s companies.
Musk’s growing presence in the Trump administration has faced increasing backlash. A Quinnipiac University poll last month found that 53 percent of respondents disapprove of his role in the White House.
A separate Associated Press-National Opinion Research Center poll found that most Americans oppose Trump’s reliance on billionaires for policy advice and have an unfavorable opinion of Musk.
DOGE has been at the center of controversy, particularly for its attempts to access U.S. Treasury data, its push for mass resignations of federal employees, and threats to dismantle USAID. Musk has also made provocative statements on social media, recently claiming that the Department of Education “doesn’t exist” and hinting at plans to dismantle it.
The controversy intensified after a Wall Street Journal report revealed that a senior DOGE official, Marko Elez, had a history of making openly racist online posts. Elez resigned following the revelation but was rehired by Musk the next day.
The CBS/YouGov poll also found that several other Trump administration policies remain unpopular.
Fifty-two percent of respondents oppose building large detention centers to hold migrants awaiting deportation, only 13 percent support Trump’s proposal for the U.S. to take over Gaza, 66 percent believe Trump is not focused enough on lowering prices, and a majority oppose new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Europe, and Canada. Despite these findings, the White House selectively promoted data that favored Trump’s narrative.
A Sunday press release declared “Americans Are Loving the New Golden Age,” citing Trump’s 53 percent approval rating and the 70 percent of respondents who believe he is fulfilling his campaign promises. It also highlighted majority approval for Trump’s mass deportation plan and his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, ignoring other poll results that contradict these claims.
The administration continues to defend Musk despite growing public opposition. At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed concerns over Musk’s role, saying Trump had been “very clear” about his position during the campaign.
However, when asked whether Musk has a security clearance, if he passed a background check, or whether DOGE officials had clearance to access government databases, Leavitt admitted she “didn’t know” and would need to check.
The White House has not yet clarified those details. With Musk’s role under increasing scrutiny and public opposition growing, the administration may soon be forced to address the controversy. For now, it continues to defend Musk’s influence while downplaying concerns over his unchecked power in the federal government.
