Tesla’s Brand in Turmoil: Musk’s Politics Backfire as Consumer Trust Plummets

Elon Musk‘s political alignments and recent role in the White House’s cost-cutting DOGE Office have triggered a significant public backlash, putting immense pressure on Tesla’s brand and bottom line. His vocal support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has further alienated Tesla’s core consumer base, largely liberal-leaning and environmentally conscious.

Marketing expert and NYU professor Scott Galloway described the fallout as “one of the greatest brand destructions of all time,” during the Pivot podcast with Kara Swisher. Once hailed as a revolutionary brand, Tesla has nosedived in public perception, dropping from 8th place in 2021 to 95th in 2025 in the Axios Harris Poll ranking of America’s most visible companies.

“He’s alienated the wrong people,” said Galloway, noting that most Republicans—Musk’s current political allies—don’t typically support electric vehicles, making the move strategically flawed. “He’s cozied up to people who aren’t buying EVs.”

Musk’s role in the DOGE Office, which promotes austerity in government spending, and his increasing visibility in partisan politics have led to consumer boycotts, protests, and falling investor confidence. This political pivot has also coincided with Tesla’s financial slump—earnings per share plunged 71% year over year in April, and discontent has grown among shareholders.

In response, Musk has attempted a course correction. On May 24, he announced a renewed commitment to Tesla, X (formerly Twitter), and xAI, stating he would step away from political activities and instead “spend 24/7” improving operations. At the Qatar Economic Forum, he pledged to reduce political spending, unless absolutely necessary.

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