A recent analysis from the Media Research Center (MRC) has shed light on the media coverage received by United States President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. While Trump faced a significant amount of negative media coverage during his first 100 days in office, Elon Musk’s media coverage was even worse.
According to the MRC’s findings, evening newscasts on ABC, NBC, and CBS delivered 92% negative media coverage of Trump as he approached his 100th day in office. The MRC analyzed shows like “World News Tonight,” “NBC Nightly News,” and “CBS Evening News” from January 20 to April 9, revealing that 92.2% of the 899 stories about Trump were negative.
Researcher Rich Noyes noted that Trump’s media coverage in his second term has been more negative compared to his first term, where he received 89% negative coverage. In contrast, former President Joe Biden received 59% positive media coverage during his first 100 days in office.
Interestingly, Elon Musk faced even more negative media coverage than Trump, with a staggering 96% of coverage being negative. This is particularly noteworthy considering Musk’s connections to the Trump administration through his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Only Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth received worse media coverage than Musk, with a unanimous 100% negative coverage. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 89% negative coverage in comparison.
In response to the overwhelming media scrutiny, Musk announced during the Tesla Q1 2025 earnings call that he would be stepping back from DOGE’s day-to-day operations. He expressed his intention to allocate more time to Tesla starting in May, stating, “I think I’ll continue to spend a day or two per week on government matters for as long as the President would like me to do so and as long as it is useful. But starting next month, I’ll be allocating probably more of my time to Tesla.”
The analysis highlights the intense media scrutiny faced by both Trump and Musk, with Musk’s negative coverage surpassing even that of the former President. Despite this, Musk remains committed to his companies and responsibilities, showcasing his resilience in the face of media backlash.