Polling released Thursday revealed that most Republicans continue to back President Trump over Elon Musk amid the increasingly public feud between the two high-profile figures.
The data underscores just how strong Trump’s grip on Republican loyalty remains, even as tensions rise with Musk, the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency. For many Americans, the public fallout between the two has only deepened frustration with both political and tech leadership.
When asked whom they would support in the conflict, a majority of U.S. adults said neither. According to the YouGov poll, 28% expressed support for Trump, while only 8% favored Musk.
Among Republican respondents, 71% said they would choose Trump in the dispute. Only 12% selected “neither.” On the other hand, 80% of Democrats indicated they would not take sides at all.
The clash follows months of partnership. Musk had served in a prominent role within the Trump administration and wielded significant influence on policy and budget matters before departing the White House in late May. Initially, Musk said he would remain an informal adviser to the president, but he soon turned against Trump’s major legislative initiative, calling it bloated and fiscally irresponsible.
By Thursday, Trump publicly questioned whether the relationship could continue, expressing disappointment in Musk during an Oval Office appearance. Musk responded online with a flurry of sharp critiques, escalating their war of words.
Despite the friction, both sides may seek a path toward reconciliation. A phone conversation between the two has reportedly been scheduled for Friday in hopes of cooling the feud. Musk, meanwhile, appeared to soften a separate threat he made on social media to withdraw the Dragon spacecraft from service, a move that could have had major implications for NASA.