Elon Musk, Tesla, and DOGE: A Masterclass in How Personal Reputation Can Shape (and Shake) a Brand
Elon Musk’s political involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and ties to the Trump administration triggered a major reputational crisis for Tesla—damaging brand loyalty, stock value, and customer trust. In this analysis, Joe Chierotti of OptimizeUp unpacks what brands can learn from Tesla’s fallout about personal reputation risks, executive focus, and building crisis-proof brand resilience in 2025 and beyond.