‘Whoa!’ CNN’s Harry Enten Stunned By Trump-Era Plunge In Elon Musk’s Popularity

CNN senior data correspondent Harry Enten was stunned by the plunge in Elon Musk’s popularity since before President Donald Trump was first elected — and the unpopularity of Musk’s role in the current administration.

As an ambiguously-titled “special government employee,” Musk has been spearheading massive purges of government employees, the controversial shuttering of USAID, and the rewriting of vital government computing systems — all without being elected or confirmed.

On Wednesday’s edition of CNN News Central, Enten joined co-anchor Sara Sidner to break down the public’s reaction to Musk now — and just how far his popularity has fallen since he was “just the Space-X guy”:

SARA SIDNER: How popular is the idea of having Elon Musk in this position, which has a great deal of power?

HARRY ENTEN: Yeah, I think simply put, the American people did not sign up for this! They voted in Donald Trump. They did not vote in Elon Musk, a key role for Musk in Trump’s administration.

You see this, 39% support, 53% — the clear majority oppose. They don’t want this! The American people don’t want this! No, no, no! Just 36% of independents support the idea of Elon Musk having a key role in the Trump administration.

So the bottom line, when it comes to all of this and Elon Musk being everywhere, it seems, in the federal government trying to trim down the federal deficit, the American folks simply do not want Elon Musk having a key role in the Trump administration.

SARA SIDNER: Even though he has a very key role at this point. How his own popularity sort of been impacted by this? Because if you go on Twitter or X, which he owns, you would think he is the king of kings.

HARRY ENTEN: He may be the king of X or Twitter, but he ain’t the king of the United States of America. And if he were the king, he’d be a very unpopular king.

Elon Musk’s net favorable rating. You know, back in 2016, when he was known as the Space X guy. Right? His net favorable rating was plus 29 points.

By last year pre-fall, he had dropped all the way down to minus three as he began to take on more of a political role. Remember, as he took on X, as he bought X, formerly known as Twitter.

Now, look, in 2025. Whoa! The bottom has fallen out! Fallen out, -11 points. And it should be noted that Donald Trump’s own net favorable rating is closer to about a net zero.

So Elon Musk at this particular point is far more unpopular than Donald Trump, who is at the apex of his popularity. In fact, what we see with Elon Musk is he is at the trough of his popularity.

Watch above via CNN News Central.