Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at New York University and prominent commentator on tech industry dynamics, has described the reputational fallout surrounding Elon Musk and Tesla as “one of the greatest brand destructions of all time.”
Speaking on the Pivot podcast, which he co-hosts with journalist Kara Swisher, Galloway blamed Musk’s political entanglements—particularly his alignment with the Trump campaign and leadership role in the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—for severely damaging the automaker’s brand.
“Tesla was a great brand,” Galloway said. “The rivers have reversed and the tide has turned entirely against him.”
Tesla, once the poster child of the clean-energy movement and innovation darling, has suffered a stunning collapse in public perception. Citing a recent Axios Harris Poll, Galloway noted that Tesla has fallen from 8th place in 2021 to 95th in 2025 among the 100 most visible companies in the U.S.—a dramatic decline many observers attribute to Musk’s politicization of his public image.
Over the past year, Musk poured millions into Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and appeared regularly alongside the former president during his transition. His subsequent appointment as the public face of DOGE—a cost-cutting policy unit tasked with reducing government spending—further entrenched Musk within Republican power circles.
While the move boosted his standing among conservative voters, it triggered an intense backlash from Tesla’s historically liberal customer base.
“He’s alienated the wrong people,” Galloway warned. “Three-quarters of Republicans would never consider buying an EV. So he’s cozied up to the people who aren’t interested in EVs.”
The fallout hasn’t been limited to public perception. Tesla’s financials have cratered. In its April earnings report, the company announced a 71% drop in earnings per share compared to the same period last year and a 20% decline in automotive revenue. Widespread protests have erupted at Tesla showrooms and dealerships across the country, with critics blaming Musk’s divisive politics for the shift in consumer sentiment.
Investor frustration has also intensified. Tesla’s stock has slumped significantly in recent months, and speculation grew that the company’s board may be exploring a leadership transition, though no such move has been confirmed. The damage has led to urgent calls for Musk to refocus on Tesla’s core business.
Over the weekend, Musk signaled a potential shift in priorities. Following major outages on X, the social media platform he owns, Musk posted, “Back to spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms. I must be super focused on /xAI and Tesla (plus Starship launch next week), as we have critical technologies rolling out.”
At the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday, Musk further indicated he would be stepping back from politics—for now.
“I plan to spend a lot less on political campaigns in the future,” he said. “If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it. I do not currently see a reason.”
However, it remains unclear whether Musk’s promise to return his attention to Tesla and his other ventures means he will abandon the polarizing rhetoric that has come to define his public persona in recent years. His sharp shift toward right-wing politics, ongoing presence on X, and vocal support for controversial policies have created a disconnect between Tesla’s brand and its traditional customer base—typically younger, urban, and left-leaning.
While Musk has previously demonstrated the ability to galvanize support and lead disruptive innovation, analysts warn that his credibility with key markets is eroding. Meanwhile, competitors in the electric vehicle space—including Rivian, Hyundai, and Ford—are seizing the opportunity to lure disaffected Tesla customers.
It is not clear whether Musk can repair the damage his politics has caused Tesla. What is clear, as Galloway put it, is that the tech billionaire has “forgotten who made Tesla what it was.”
