Elon Musk says "Do you realize the media is despised?" amid interview on journalist hostility

During a live interview at Tesla’s Texas facility, Elon Musk pushed back after The Economist’s editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes accused him of using his wealth and platform to meddle in European politics, claiming many people resent him. Musk countered that public hostility toward journalists and news organizations far exceeds any dislike directed at him, citing survey data showing only about 15 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of the press. Beddoes admitted trust in journalism is low but argued that social media polarization—which she said Musk’s activity on X worsens—has fueled the decline. The exchange followed Musk’s endorsements of Germany’s Alternative for Germany party and his warnings about potential unrest in Britain, which he framed as concerns over border security and public safety rather than a right-wing agenda. A 2025 Gallup poll found that just 28 percent of Americans express significant trust in news outlets, a historic low.