Elon Musk: The Unelected Power Player in Trump’s America

Since being handed sweeping powers in Donald Trump’s second term, most notably as Director of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk has joined Trump as one of the most influential and divisive figures in American politics.

From cutting federal departments to integrating Tesla and SpaceX into government infrastructure, Musk’s role has not gone unnoticed by the public. Some even see him as future opposition to Trump, as he recently announced the “America Party”, a direct challenge to the two-party system. Polling shows a nation increasingly aware, conflicted and concerned about his influence.

A Recognised Influence But Not an Overwhelming One

When asked how much influence Musk has in the Trump administration, 23% of Americans say he has “a lot” of influence, while the majority believe he has “some” (31%). Only 13% say he has “no influence at all”.  Although the public clearly sees Musk as a powerful figure, these numbers suggest he is not yet perceived to wield total control over the White House.

Notably, belief in Musk’s influence is higher among Harris voters (27% say “a lot”) and younger Americans (30% of 25–34s), while just 20% of Trump voters and 17% of those 65+ see him as holding significant power.

Should Musk Have That Influence? The Country is Split

While many accept Musk’s role in government, fewer think he should have it. Only 10% of Americans say Musk should have “a lot” of influence over the government, compared to 19% who support “some”. A combined 29% believe he deserves a meaningful role but that’s outweighed by the 42% who say he should have “no influence” at all.

Among Democrats, scepticism is overwhelming: 67% of Harris voters oppose any influence. But even among Trump’s own base, only 15% believe Musk should have “a lot” of influence, lower than the 20% who think he currently does.

Age and gender also play a significant role here, women are more likely to oppose Musk having influence (47% say no influence vs. 37% of men) and older voters are more likely to oppose Musk’s influence than younger voters. This suggests a growing tension between Trump’s empowerment of Musk and the public’s appetite for private sector dominance in government.

Concerns Over Self-Interest and Surveillance

Perhaps the most alarming findings come from public concerns about Musk’s intentions. A majority of Americans (52%) agree that Musk is using his role in government to benefit his own companies, 34% “strongly agree” and 23% “somewhat agree”. Just 8% disagree and 6% are unsure. These numbers suggest that a large section of the public see Musk’s dual-role as a corporate CEO and a government official as a clear conflict of interest.

The public is also concerned about privacy. 63% of Harris voters and 39% of Americans overall say they are “very concerned” that Musk’s access to federal databases could harm citizens’ privacy. Just 14% say they are “not at all concerned”. Even among Trump voters, 20% express strong concerns about the risks of Musk’s data access.

Mixed Approval for Musk’s Austerity Agenda

Musk’s most visible legacy has been the DOGE programme, a sweeping effort to cut federal spending by reducing the size of government. When asked whether they approve of these efforts, Americans are split. 20% say they “strongly approve” and another 21% “somewhat approve”, making a combined 41% in support. However, 30% “strongly disapprove” and a further 10% “somewhat disapprove”, meaning the public is just as likely to oppose his cuts as they are to support them.

Unsurprisingly, support is highest among Trump voters (39% strongly approve) but disapproval dominates among Democrats, with 57% strongly opposed to Musk’s cost-cutting efforts.

A Polarising Symbol of the New Republican Era

Elon Musk has become a real symbol of Trump’s second-term ideology: pro-business, anti-bureaucracy and deeply polarising. The polling shows Musk commands both admiration and suspicion, viewed by some as a genius reformer and by others as an unelected oligarch enriching himself.

For a large segment of the public, his influence raises uncomfortable questions about accountability, transparency and the unchecked merger of business and government.

Download the data tables for this poll.