Elon Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX, faced a reputation decline in 2025 amid nationwide protests in the United States. According to a survey conducted by Axios and Harris Poll that analyzes the 100 “most visible” companies in America, SpaceX ranked number 86, while Tesla ranked 95. This, compared to the companies’ rankings of 5 and 8, respectively, in 2021.
This crisis stemmed from Musk’s public alignment with right-wing politics and his ties to the Trump administration, which sparked shareholder and customer backlash.
The protests urged shareholders to sell Tesla stock and owners to abandon Tesla vehicles, contributing to the company’s diminishing goodwill among Americans. Tesla’s fiscal report, released during the protests, showed a 9.4% revenue drop and a 71% profit decline compared to the prior year, highlighting financial strains.
The reputation setbacks suggest ongoing challenges for Musk’s enterprises, which may affect investor confidence and consumer loyalty moving forward.
