The country is about as divided as it has ever been in recent years. When the United States has been divided politically, it is commonplace for people to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest the politicians they feel are responsible for the problems at hand. However, one man and his company have been the subject of mass protests around the country.
Around a week after winning the election, President Donald Trump announced that he would be appointing Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as one of the heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Critics of this decision pointed out the fact that Musk has not held any political position before this appointment.
President Trump introduced DOGE to make the US government workforce smaller and therefore more efficient. However, the new organization has received backlash from Democrats who say that DOGE is being used as a political weapon to cut the federal workforce and make it align with the Trump administration’s policies.
Tensions escalated soon after Trump’s inauguration, when Musk made a gesture that appeared to many as a fascist salute. This gesture sparked outrage among Democrats, who quickly labeled Musk and his main company Tesla “Nazis.” The reaction from Republicans was mixed, with some showing signs of concern for what Musk meant by the gesture, others claiming that the accusations of fascism held no ground, while other, more extreme right-wing supporters embraced the gesture.
Protestors soon started to gather outside of Tesla dealerships across the country, calling for nationwide boycotts of the car company and the termination of DOGE. With signs accusing Musk of fascism and of an intent to destroy the country, these protests gained the attention of people around the world.
Tesla itself has felt the impact. According to CNN, Tesla’s company value has decreased by more than 44% since January. Musk’s net worth has also decreased since he took his position in DOGE. According to Bloomberg, Musk has lost over $134 billion this year.
These nationwide protests have gained the attention of politicians as well, including the president. In early March, President Trump said protesters would “go through hell.”
In addition to the president, these protests have caught the attention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) after a man was accused of using Molotov cocktails against a Tesla dealer in late March. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have respectively labeled the action as “domestic terrorism.” Under the new director Patel’s orders, the FBI has launched a task force to “crack down” on vandalism of Tesla dealers.
Patel has faced criticism after being appointed to head the FBI following a narrow 51-49 Senate confirmation vote. Democrats argue that Patel exhibits a stronger sense of loyalty to President Trump than to the country.
Other critics have pointed out the fact that Patel has never held any high-ranking position within the FBI, therefore not giving him the experience necessary to lead the nation’s lead law enforcement agency. Supporters of Patel claim that he will restore accountability to the Bureau.
In a country already divided, the controversies around Elon Musk and DOGE have served to fuel the flames, with Tesla dealerships at the epicenter of the political battle.
Solomon • May 16, 2025 at 7:48 am
Elon Musk, DOGE, the Trump administration has undoubtedly been incredibly devastating to the United States and so much of the work that has been done to advance American democracy. Elon Musk and DOGE are a threat to American government and democracy and are causing so much harm to the citizens that are supposed to be at the center of American democracy, but under Trump’s administration they are pushed away from American democracy while he and his fellow fascist dictators try to break democracy. DOGE is a despicable mechanism Trump and other fascists are using to try to lead the US government towards a fascist regime. DOGE violates every value held around American democracy and civic engagement while ripping away, dismantling agencies and programs that do such necessary work that centers human life and needs.
Natalie Kovalenko • May 15, 2025 at 7:00 pm
I have a firm opinion on how the government has been running things since Trump took office. I feel that the country has become a hot mess and that we are trending towards a very dark period. Elon Musk has been anything but efficient. The fact of the matter is that administration will never get anything positive done. The lies and manipulation that have led to so many Americans following their lead like sheep, have honestly astonished me. But it gives me hope to see people speak out about these things and has given me hope that good will prevail in the long run.
Henry Goldstein • May 14, 2025 at 9:51 am
I think the work Elon Musk has been doing at DOGE has been anything but efficient. For the most part, Musk and the department have only caused chaos and fear and made up fake numbers about the money they have saved taxpayers through their cuts to government workforces and programs. At face value, I don’t think there is anything wrong with having more government efficiency. However, the way DOGE is handling this is just not right. Trump and Musk are trying to restrict access to Social Security and other important programs for millions of Americans. They have also fired important government workers, only to be ordered by a judge to hire them again because the firings were illegal, and in the end, some of the workers didn’t even return, which causes more chaos in an already chaotic administration. I believe that the more protests there are, the more voters will be mobilized to vote against the Trump administration in the 2026 midterm elections, so that Trump and Musk’s agenda can be put in check.