New UMass Poll Reveals Growing Unpopularity of Trump & Musk

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Trump and Musk Approval Plummets: Economic Chaos and Admin Turmoil Fuel Public Backlash

By TRH News Desk

New Delhi, April 16, 2025: A new national poll conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found President Donald Trump and his close aide, Elon Musk, facing rise in unpopularity. The poll outcome came within three months of Trump in the office.

Trump is facing significant declines in public approval nearly three months into his second term, said Rolling Stone in a report, while quoting the survey data. Trump had assumed the US Presidency on January 20 this year in his second term.

“The poll, conducted during April 4-9, with 1,000 respondents, highlights mounting public discontent tied to economic challenges and Musk’s controversial role in the administration,” said Rolling Stone in the report.

The UMass Amherst poll shows Trump’s job approval rating underwater, with 44 per cent of respondents approving of his performance and 51 per cent disapproving.

Media reports, including those from Rolling Stone and Yahoo, note that Trump’s disapproval is particularly stark on economic issues, with 62 per cent of respondents believing he is mishandling inflation and 58 per cent criticizing his trade policies.

Tatishe Nteta, director of the UMass Amherst Poll, told Rolling Stone that “with the stock market in free fall, prices remaining high, and consumer confidence in the economy at historically low levels, it is no surprise that Trump is struggling in these areas”.

The global stock markets went into an upheaval with the announcement of reciprocal tariffs. Subsequently, stock markets have partially recovered from lows after the tariffs were paused for 90 days for all nations except China.

Elon Musk, who has been leading the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), fares even worse in public perception. The poll asked respondents to rate their feelings toward Musk on a scale from 0 (coldest) to 100 (warmest), with Musk averaging a score of 37, down five points from October 2024.

This places him below federal employees (58), transgender people (45), and both Democrats and Republicans (41 each). Media reports highlight Musk’s polarizing actions, including mass firings of federal workers and controversial interventions in state elections, such as his failed attempt to elect a conservative judge in Wisconsin.

When asked to describe Musk in one word, “smart” was the most common response, but “evil” was the second most frequent, followed by terms like “greedy,” “arrogant,” and “weird,” according to Nteta’s comments to Rolling Stone.

The poll also underscores broader dissatisfaction with Trump’s leadership style and policy agenda. Majorities of respondents expressed skepticism about Trump’s ability to unite the country (53 per cent) or demonstrate moral leadership in a crisis (51 per cent).

Additionally, nearly two-thirds opposed Trump challenging the Constitution by seeking a third term, media reports noted, citing the UMass findings. On specific issues, Trump’s handling of jobs (38 per cent approval), foreign affairs (39 per cent), and civil rights (36 per cent) also drew significant disapproval.

Musk’s role in DOGE, which has been marked by aggressive cuts to federal agencies, has become a lightning rod for criticism. Media outlets report that Democrats have seized on Musk’s unpopularity, with some polls suggesting his involvement in elections could harm Republican candidates.

A Democratic firm’s poll, shared with The Washington Post, found that 30 per cent of Wisconsin voters were less likely to support a Trump-endorsed candidate due to Musk’s intervention, compared to just five per cent who were more likely.

Economic concerns appear to be a key driver of the declining approval ratings. Media reports emphasize that the public’s frustration with high prices and a volatile stock market has eroded confidence in Trump’s economic stewardship.

Nteta warned that unless Trump and his supporters address these concerns, “further declines in the president’s approval ratings” could follow. Similarly, Musk’s association with the administration’s economic policies, including his opposition to Trump’s tariff plans, has fueled perceptions of him as a political liability, according to media analyses.

The UMass Amherst poll, conducted by YouGov, has a margin of error of approximately 3.8 per cent, said media reports. Its findings align with other recent surveys, such as a Marquette University Law School poll reported by POLITICO, which also showed majority disapproval of Musk’s DOGE efforts.

As Trump navigates a challenging start to his second term, media reports suggest he may be considering distancing himself from Musk, with Nteta noting that Trump has “hinted that Elon Musk’s time in the White House may be drawing to a close”.

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