Elon Musk’s Texas arrival stirred high hopes and heated debate. He shifted Tesla’s headquarters, launched rockets nearby, and even designed a private town. Yet a recent poll finds him the state’s least popular public figure.
Texas Public Opinion surveyed thousands of voters across urban and rural areas. Participants rated familiar Texans on favorability. Musk’s score landed at a harsh negative ten, below Attorney General Ken Paxton’s negative nine and President Trump’s negative one.
Fifty-one percent of respondents said they view Musk unfavorably. Of those, thirty-four percent said they feel very unfavorable toward the Tesla CEO. The results send a blunt message across Texas: “We don’t like you.”
By contrast, several state leaders enjoy solid approval. Congressman Colin Allred leads with a plus six rating. State Representative James Talarico and Congressman Joaquin Castro each earned plus five. These lawmakers maintain clear public support.
Musk’s poor ranking reflects national trends. In a Gallup poll last month, he appeared as the most unpopular person in America. Sixty-one percent of U.S. adults held a negative opinion of him in that survey.
The shift in public mood marks a steep decline from earlier admiration. Musk once drew praise for transforming electric cars and commercial space travel. Today, his erratic posts on X dominate headlines more than his companies’ milestones.
Tesla faces fresh challenges. Production delays continue for its next battery model. A recent recall hit seventeen thousand vehicles over brake light issues. Investors worry about mounting costs and leadership turmoil.
Meanwhile, SpaceX gears up for its largest Starship test flight yet. The program draws both excitement and safety concerns. Nearby residents sued over loud noise and potential hazards at the Boca Chica launch site.
Musk’s other ventures see mixed reactions. Neuralink’s experiments aim to link human brains with computers. Some ethicists question the technology’s risks. The Boring Company’s urban tunnel system plans stalled amid regulatory hurdles.
Local business leaders in Austin predicted Musk’s move would boost the economy. His investments brought new jobs to manufacturing and construction. Still, skyrocketing housing prices and traffic congestion tinted public opinion with frustration.
Texas officials divided on Musk’s impact publicly debate gains and pains. Governor Greg Abbott praised Tesla’s growth, noting new facilities bring high-paying work. Some city mayors counter that SpaceX permits and noise complaints overwhelmed their local offices.
Musk’s private community near Boca Chica remains a topic of controversy. Supporters hail it as a prototype for futuristic living. Critics deride it as a gated enclave highlighting stark wealth inequality in a state known for rugged individualism.
Political analysts say Musk’s unpopularity may affect brand value and investor sentiment. A CEO’s media image often shapes a company’s stock performance. Musk must navigate high-stakes public relations to regain Texas voters’ trust.
Looking ahead, Musk has several chances to shift perceptions. The Cybertruck rollout promises to showcase Tesla’s design edge. Starship’s orbital ambitions could redefine space travel if tested successfully.
Some Texans hope Musk will engage more with local communities. Town halls, charitable projects, and clearer communication may help mend fences. Others argue his high-profile style clashes with Texas’s traditional values.
As Musk returns headlines with every tweet, one thing remains clear: Texas voters have spoken. Their verdict ranks him lowest among familiar Texans, a dramatic fall for someone once viewed as an icon of innovation.
Whether Musk’s next achievements will ease public discontent or deepen skepticism remains to be seen. For now, Texas has sent a message: we don’t like you.
