 "'Stop the steal': Democrats lead protest rally against 'unelected' Musk. Image source: Reuters")
Members of the Democratic Party gathered outside the Treasury Department building in Washington to protest against billionaire and entrepreneur Elon Musk for his influence in the administration of President Donald Trump.
Elon Musk, who is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has been recently given access to the US Treasury’s payment systems.
The protesters were holding placards with “co-president” Elon Musk, taking a dig at his prominent role in the Trump administration. The banners and playcrads read “Musk owns Trump” and “Muskrats are an invasive species.”
No one elected Elon Musk…
“No one elected Elon Musk to anything,” Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said to The Guardian.
“And yet Elon Musk is seizing the power that belongs to the American people. We are here to fight back. This is no longer business as usual,” she said.
Warren emphasised that Musk has grabbed control of America’s payment system, and now he could decide “whether or not to make social security payments to people who criticise him on X, or to doctors who provide treatment he does not approve of.”
Earlier, Senator Chris Murphy also took a dig at Musk. She said, “We don’t pledge allegiance to the billionaires. We don’t pledge allegiance to the creepy 22-year-olds working for Elon.”
Trump leads Doge
Elon Musk endorsed Trump during his presidential campaign and became his blunt supporter. Thus, Trump rewarded him by appointing him to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in his second term of office. This department is tasked with streamlining government operations, reducing bureaucracy, and cutting wasteful expenditures.
Musk’s involvement met with both support and criticism
Musk’s involvement in the administration has been met with both support and criticism. Supporters view his business acumen as an asset for governmental reform, while critics express concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the rapid pace of changes within federal agencies.