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Majority of US citizens wary of Musk’s role in shaping government policy

Among Democratic Party supporters, 83% voiced apprehension regarding Musk’s advisory role in shaping government policy

NEW YORK, February 6. /TASS/. Over half of US citizens are cautious about billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement in influencing government decisions, citing concerns over corruption and inefficiency, a new poll conducted by the research service YouGov showed.

According to the survey, 58% of Americans expressed unease about a potential conflict of interest arising from the entrepreneur’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory panel focused on enhancing governmental operations. Meanwhile, 40% of respondents said they were "deeply concerned" about corruption risks, while only 30% felt somewhat prepared for possible bureaucratic challenges facing the federal government.

Among Democratic Party supporters, 83% voiced apprehension regarding Musk’s advisory role in shaping government policy. In contrast, 32% of Republicans and 58% of independent voters feared that Musk’s involvement could lead to a corruption-prone administration.

The poll, conducted on February 5, surveyed 2,400 US residents aged 21 and above. The margin of error was not specified by YouGov.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is among the world’s wealthiest individuals. By the end of 2024, he topped Forbes' list of leading US billionaires and ranked second globally. Forbes estimated Musk’s net worth at $195 billion. After his inauguration on January 20, US President Donald Trump appointed Musk as head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On January 16, amid reports of potential appointments in Trump’s administration, former President Joe Biden warned of an "emerging oligarchy in America" during his final address to the nation, cautioning that the increasing power of the ultra-wealthy could undermine the foundations of US democracy.

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