Poll Shock: Elon Musk and Netanyahu Top List of America’s Most Unpopular Public Figures
Elon Musk has emerged as America’s most disliked public figure in a 2025 Gallup poll, followed closely by Benjamin Netanyahu, due to their controversial actions and political stances. The survey highlights a significant decline in Musk’s favorability and growing criticism of Netanyahu, reflecting broader public discontent and partisan divides.
A Gallup poll conducted from July 7 to July 21, 2025, has crowned tech billionaire Elon Musk as America’s most unpopular public figure, with a net favorability rating of -28, a dramatic 24-point drop from January 2025. Only 33% of the 1,000 surveyed Americans view the Tesla and SpaceX CEO favorably, while 61% hold an unfavorable opinion, creating a nearly two-to-one negative split. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu trails closely as the second-most disliked figure, with a net favorability of -23, reflecting a 52% unfavorable rating among respondents.
The poll highlights Musk’s polarizing actions as a key driver of his plummeting popularity. His vocal support for Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign alienated Democrats, who gave him a -86 net favorability score, one of the lowest in Gallup’s history. A subsequent public fallout with Trump, including Musk’s claims about Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, further eroded his support among Republicans, once a strong base. Additional controversies, including his management of X, legal battles, and a 16% drop in Tesla’s net income in Q2 2025, have fuelled public discontent. A Williams College study noted that Musk’s tarnished image is even deterring liberal consumers from purchasing electric vehicles, impacting the broader EV market.
Netanyahu’s unpopularity stems from criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the ensuing war, which has drawn accusations of humanitarian violations. While 63% of Republicans view him favourably, only 9% of Democrats do, underscoring a stark partisan divide. The poll also ranked other figures, with Pope Leo XIV leading at +46 net favourability, followed by Volodymyr Zelensky (+18) and Bernie Sanders (+11). The findings reflect a deeply polarized American public, with Musk and Netanyahu at the center of intense scrutiny amid political and social upheavals.