A recent survey reveals a striking level of hostility among Democratic voters toward Elon Musk, with a majority expressing support for a hypothetical law that would imprison the billionaire entrepreneur. The poll, conducted jointly by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute, highlights deep political divisions surrounding Musk’s controversial role in the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, an initiative backed by former President Donald Trump aimed at cutting government waste.
According to the survey of 1,067 likely U.S. voters conducted from April 30 to May 4, 54 percent of respondents overall said they would support a law imprisoning Musk for his involvement in DOGE. Among those, 39 percent said they would strongly support such legislation. Opposition stood at 36 percent, with 26 percent strongly opposed, and 10 percent undecided.
The results reveal stark partisan splits. Among Democrats, 71 percent favor imprisoning Musk, and support climbs even higher among self-identified liberals, at 80 percent. Republicans and conservatives, in contrast, mostly oppose such a law, with 54 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of conservatives rejecting the idea. Independents remain divided, with 52 percent supporting and 34 percent opposing imprisonment.
Beyond incarceration, the poll also explored opinions on banning Musk from holding government office. Here, 48 percent of likely voters would back a law barring Musk from any government position, compared to 38 percent opposed. Democrats again lead in favor, with 68 percent supporting the ban, while 59 percent of Republicans oppose it. Independents are nearly evenly split, with 46 percent supporting and 37 percent opposing such a measure.
Justin Haskins, a senior fellow at the Heartland Institute and the survey’s primary author, described the findings as a troubling sign of political intolerance. “The fact that a majority of Democratic voters would support imprisoning Elon Musk for trying to make government more efficient is a shocking indictment of the modern left,” he said. “Many Americans seem more willing to punish innovation than to fix the broken systems Musk was trying to reform.”
The survey also measured Musk’s favorability among voters. Overall, 42 percent of likely voters view Musk positively, including 21 percent with a very favorable impression. However, 52 percent hold an unfavorable opinion of the tech billionaire, with 38 percent feeling very unfavorable. This marks a slight decline in favorability compared to a Rasmussen survey conducted in March.
Favorability breaks down along predictable political lines. About 77 percent of Republicans view Musk positively, while only 17 percent of Democrats share that sentiment. Among independents, 37 percent express a favorable opinion. Favorability is also higher among white voters at 46 percent, compared to 29 percent of Black voters and 40 percent of Hispanic voters.
Gender also influences opinion: 51 percent of men view Musk favorably, while just 35 percent of women do. Among voters who supported Donald Trump in last year’s election, 75 percent have a positive impression of Musk. Meanwhile, only 12 percent of Kamala Harris voters feel the same.
The survey paints a picture of an increasingly divided America. Most voters believe political polarization has worsened since Trump’s second inauguration, with nearly half blaming the president for the growing divide. A majority also report declining civility in political discourse and expect political violence to rise in coming years.
This latest poll underscores the intense scrutiny and polarization surrounding Elon Musk’s foray into government reform efforts. While some hail him as a bold innovator seeking to streamline bureaucracy, others view his role as dangerously disruptive or politically motivated. The sharply divided public reaction signals that Musk’s presence in the political sphere will remain a flashpoint for debate.
For readers interested in the full breakdown and methodology of the Rasmussen Reports and Heartland Institute survey, detailed information is publicly available, along with daily updates on political opinion trends.
Source: Rasmussenreports
