Elon Musk's Politics Send Tesla and SpaceX Reputation Into a Tailspin

Introduction: Decline in Rankings

Tesla and SpaceX, companies synonymous with innovation and visionary leadership, have found themselves grappling with significant reputational challenges in recent years. The recent Axios Harris Poll 100 revealed a staggering decline in Tesla's ranking from 8th place in 2021 to 95th in 2025. This dramatic drop is attributed to none other than Elon Musk's increasingly polarizing political activities, which have evidently alienated a major section of the public. As noted in a detailed report by Axios, Musk's political engagements have become central to the public discourse surrounding these companies [source].

Elon Musk's alignment with contentious political figures has particularly stirred controversy. As highlighted in the background information, his advisory role to former President Trump and Musk's associations with politically charged movements have raised eyebrows. Such moves have reportedly contributed to Tesla's steep reputation decline and have similarly affected SpaceX, another Musk-led venture known for its ambitious space exploration goals [source]. The Axios Harris Poll underscores this by exhibiting a clear partisan divide, reflecting how Musk's political statements have polarized perceptions across the political aisle.