Mark Zuckerberg's Makeover: Did It Backfire?

Public Perception of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg

Recent findings from a Pew Research Center study reveal that public opinion regarding Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg in the United States is predominantly negative.

Differing Levels of Unfavorability

The report indicates that Mark Zuckerberg, despite recent attention surrounding his foray into high fashion, is viewed less favorably than Elon Musk. Specifically, 67% of U.S. adults express a negative opinion of Zuckerberg, while approximately 54% hold an unfavorable view of Musk.

Increased Scrutiny During Trump's Second Term

Both tech leaders have faced heightened examination since the beginning of President Trump’s second term in office.

They were both present at the presidential inauguration and contributed financially to the inauguration fund.

Policy Shifts and Political Involvement

Changes in content moderation policies at Meta, led by Zuckerberg, have resulted in reduced fact-checking and lessened action against hate speech.

Elon Musk, conversely, has been actively involved in supporting President Trump’s initiatives.

Musk's Impact on Government Operations

During the initial month of Trump’s presidency, Musk directly engaged with U.S. government affairs.

He leveraged his political connections to implement significant cuts to government agencies, including USAID, an organization dedicated to providing global humanitarian assistance.

Furthermore, Musk’s DOGE overstated the extent of its budgetary reductions by several billion dollars on Monday.

Partisan Divide in Opinions

Considering Musk’s association with Trump, it is not surprising that 85% of Democrats and those leaning Democratic hold unfavorable views of the Tesla CEO.

In contrast, 73% of Republicans and Republican-aligned individuals express a favorable opinion of Musk.

Zuckerberg's Universally Negative Reception

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, experiences more widespread disapproval, even across the political spectrum.

While 60% of Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents view Zuckerberg unfavorably, a larger 76% of Democrats share this sentiment.

Public Reaction to Zuckerberg's Image

Despite attempts to cultivate a new image through fashion and music, Americans appear unconvinced by Zuckerberg’s efforts.

Study Methodology

Pew Research Center’s study was based on a panel of 5,086 randomly selected U.S. adults.

Data collection took place between January 27, 2025, and February 2, 2025, ensuring the responses reflect current public opinions.