According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, Americans tend to have a more negative view of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, with the latter being viewed more unfavorably.

Despite Mark Zuckerberg’s recent attempts to rebrand himself, including a newfound interest in high fashion, he remains less popular than Elon Musk, with 67% of US adults holding an unfavorable view of him, compared to 54% for Musk. Zuckerberg’s efforts to revamp his image, including his sudden interest in fashion, have not seemed to improve his public perception.

Both tech executives have faced increased scrutiny since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, during which they have both been involved with the president and made donations to his inauguration fund. Additionally, Zuckerberg has implemented changes to Meta’s content moderation policies, limiting fact-checking and action against hate speech, while Musk has played a significant role in Trump’s administration, using his connections to influence US government operations, including gutting government departments like USAID.

Musk’s involvement in the US government has been notable, particularly in the first month of Trump’s presidency, where he has used his connections to shape policy and influence budget decisions. However, his claims about the impact of his budget cuts have been called into question, with some estimates suggesting that the actual savings are significantly lower than initially stated. Specifically, his DOGE has overstated the impact of its budget cuts by billions of dollars, according to reports.

The study found that opinions on Musk and Zuckerberg tend to fall along party lines, with 85% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning respondents holding unfavorable views of Musk, while 73% of Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents view him favorably. Similarly, 76% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning respondents hold unfavorable views of Zuckerberg, compared to 60% of Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents.

Zuckerberg’s attempts to rebrand himself, including his interest in fashion and music, do not seem to have improved his public image, with the majority of Americans still holding unfavorable views of him. Despite his efforts to present himself as a more relaxed and creative figure, his policies and actions as CEO of Meta have likely contributed to his low public approval ratings.

The Pew study involved a panel of 5,086 randomly selected US adults and was conducted from January 27, 2025, to February 2, 2025, providing a snapshot of current public opinion on these two influential tech executives. The survey’s findings reflect the recent opinions of the American public, offering insight into the perceived roles and impacts of Musk and Zuckerberg in the current political landscape.