A new YouGov poll released Friday reveals a decisive Republican preference for President Donald Trump over tech billionaire Elon Musk, as the public feud between the two influential figures continues to unfold.
Among Republican voters, 71% say they would side with Trump over Musk, compared to just 6% who favor the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. Another 12% said they would choose neither, while 11% remain undecided.
However, the divide narrows significantly among the general electorate, though Trump’s lead remains decisive. 52% of all respondents said they would choose neither Trump nor Musk if forced to pick a side. 28% chose Trump, while 8% picked Musk.
The poll results arrive in the midst of an intensifying political and personal conflict between the two high-profile figures, who once maintained a fragile alliance. The feud was triggered after Musk criticized Trump’s signature budget proposal, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it “outrageous” and “pork-filled.” Trump’s initial response was restrained, insisting that Musk had previously approved of the bill and expressing disappointment in his criticism.
Elon Musk escalated the conflict dramatically when he claimed that Trump wouldn’t have won the election without him, called for his impeachment, and asserted that the Epstein files hadn’t been released because Trump was on them.
The YouGov survey also revealed Americans’ mixed feelings about the potential for collaboration between Trump and Musk. 35% of respondents said the U.S. would be better off if the two worked together, while 31% believed the country would fare better with them at odds. Another 35% were unsure.
Unsurprisingly, views on collaboration split sharply along party lines:
- 52% of Democrats say the U.S. would be better off with the two remaining adversaries
- 72% of Republicans support Trump and Musk working together
- Only 10% of Democrats support a partnership between the two
The survey also shows that 41% of Americans support ending federal subsidies and contracts awarded to Musk’s companies — including Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink — amid the feud. Support for such a move is strongest among Democrats:
- 33% of Republicans oppose the idea outright
- 61% of Democrats support cutting Musk off from government support
- Only 23% of Republicans agree
On Thursday, Trump reiterated his support for his budget bill on Truth Social, writing “This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress. It’s a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given… This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed Musk’s remarks, telling Newsweek, “Musk is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted. The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”
Despite the fiery rhetoric, 48% of Republicans believe Trump and Musk will eventually work together again — a sharp contrast to just 15% of Democrats, who overwhelmingly believe the fallout is permanent.
For now, the clash between America’s most powerful political and technological figures seems far from over — and could have lasting implications for the GOP’s identity, tech regulation, and public trust in elite power players on both sides of the political aisle.
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