Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire, is apparently not one to take any vocal criticism particularly lightly.
“Maybe some people do loathe me — and that’s probably true — I don’t care,” Musk, 55, told editor-in-chief of The Economist Zanny Minton Beddoes in a wide-ranging, 90-minute video interview released on Thursday, July 23, after the X owner was asked if he understands that “some people do loathe” Musk and believe his politics and use of social media is not “helpful for Western democracy.”
“But the fact that, as you pointed out, a quarter billion people follow me is that I think a lot more people actually like me than don’t,” he continued. “And I think a lot more people hate you and the media more than you realize.”
He added, “Do you realize the media is despised? Do you realize that journalists, the view of journalists, is like, it’s like a favorable view of journalists is like 15 percent. So the show is on the other foot. They hate you. They hate you far more than they hate me.”
Beddoes did acknowledge that overall trust in the news and journalism is at an all-time low — according to one October 2025 Gallup poll, only 28 percent of Americans report having a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news accurately and fairly.
“I think there is certainly [a] loss of trust in journalism. I think, in part, there have been mistakes by journalists and journalism, I totally acknowledge that,” she explained. “But I think the kind of polarized environment, particularly on social media fostered by the kinds of things you’re pushing on X, actually helps this – makes it worse.”
Musk vehemently disagreed with Beddoes’ assertion, doubling down on his assessment of journalism as a whole.
“I don’t think so,” he responded. “I think you’re the problem, the media, and, um, speaking of loathing, you are loathed far more than I am and you don’t seem to even realize that.”
“I think very few people know who I am relative to you,” Beddoes said. “So I don’t think I play in the same game.”
“The media collectively,” Elon retorted, again focused on attacking the media and journalism at large. “Um, so, I mean, you’re hated.”
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted between January 27 and February 2 of 2025, 54 percent of Americans say they have an “unfavorable” view of Musk, including a reported 36% who report having a “very unfavorable” opinion of the trillionaire.
Musk has been the center of much controversy during his time in the public eye, including his public issues with the mothers of his children (Musk shares 14 children with four different women), his anti-trans remarks often directed towards his own trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, and his personal relationship and political dealing with President Donald Trump, including his short-lived role in the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), whose significant cut U.S. foreign aid resulted in the estimated deaths of over 700,000 people.
