Democrats have expressed outrage over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and billionaire Elon Musk reviewing U.S. government spending at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Accusations have ranged from calling the review “illegal” to labeling it a “coup,” despite it being an initiative of the duly elected administration.
Criticism of Musk has been central to the backlash, with Democrats arguing that he is “unelected” and should not be involved in reviewing federal expenditures.
“I didn’t vote for Elon Musk”
Yeah? I didn’t vote for the FBI, ATF, CIA, PBS, NPR, FDA, WHO, UN, IRS, Federal Reserve, EPA or CDC.
Cry harder
— Robert Kroese (@robkroese) February 2, 2025
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However, as critics have pointed out, most government officials, including those in agencies such as USAID, are also unelected.
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President Trump, who was elected, is the one who tasked DOGE with overseeing government efficiency efforts.
On Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers and activists gathered outside the U.S. Treasury Department to protest, with some making incendiary statements. Calls to “shut down the city” and declarations of “war” were heard as protesters attempted to enter the building.
Even CNN took notice of the extreme rhetoric.
During a segment on CNN NewsNight, host Abby Phillip and her panel mocked the Democratic response, describing it as a desperate search for a clear objective.
Phillip remarked that the Democratic effort resembled a “piñata in search of a stick,” which prompted laughter from her colleagues.
A clip aired showing highlights from the protest speeches. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) declared they would “bring the fire” if Republicans did “not see the light,” followed by a loud call to “RESIST!” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) told the crowd, “We’re going to be in your faces, we’re going to be on your asses.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) claimed they had only days to “stop the destruction of our democracy.” Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) urged demonstrators to escalate, stating, “Shut down the city” and “This is war.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), 74, attempted to lead a protest chant alongside 86-year-old Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), but reportedly fumbled the delivery.
The spectacle drew laughter from the CNN panel, with political analyst Scott Jennings even asking, “Can we play it again?”
Conservative commentator Gretchen Carlson also weighed in on the situation, pointing to what she sees as a lack of leadership among Democrats.
“The Democrats need a real leader. They need a real leader—which currently does not exist in the Democratic Party,” Carlson said. “And they have been caught completely flat-footed with the entire Trump presidency for the last two weeks.”
She also acknowledged Trump’s strategic approach, calling his collaboration with Elon Musk “possibly one of the smartest things a president had ever done.” Carlson concluded, “Democrats needed to have a plan, and it may be too late.”
During the CNN segment, Phillip turned to Democratic analyst Bakari Sellers and asked if he was “fired up.”
Sellers, appearing unimpressed, responded sarcastically, “I’m fired up and ready to go, can’t you see it in my face?” Phillip pursed her lips, seemingly holding back laughter.
BRUTAL: The Democrats’ anti-Musk protest gets laughed off the CNN table pic.twitter.com/TJkC1oJddu
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) February 5, 2025
With public reaction mounting, it remains unclear how Democrats plan to counter the Trump administration’s latest initiatives.
However, as their protest strategy continues to backfire—even drawing ridicule from typically friendly media—the political fallout may only deepen.
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With the exception of chucky cheese, ALL the rest have one thing in common. Some species simply cannot live in a society that goes by the rule of law and not ghetto violence
We should ask the Democrats, who voted for Kamala Harris to be president? They keep saying no one voted for Elon.
Well, I have news for you people. No one voted for USA ID to pay Hamas money, fund Israel against each other, fund Ukraine, and should I also say nobody voted for Kamala Harris to run for president!
A few other things that we never voted for were the FBI, CIA, invasion of our southern border, transgender procedures, indoctrination at our schools by the teachers administrators and overall bureaucracy and horrible performance and services that comes at the DMV, IRS, any other alphabet three letter agency you can come up with!
Government jobs now exist so stupid people in government unions can have something to occupy them during the day. Thereby reducing the STREET crime rates to a great degree.
This however causes a rise in government corruption, which can only be measured by the order of magnitude.
The Fascist Democrat are so Insufferable, Arrogant, Smug, and let’s not forget Stupid, that they didn’t learn a thing from the Last Election. All the Whining, Caterwauling and H-8-T Directed at 2/3rds of the American People who Voted for President Trump, because they were tired of the Moronic “Identity” Politics. Where you are only an American and worthy if you have the Right Skin Color, Genitalia, are Homosexual or Alphabet minus. Oh and Let’s not Forget a Worshipper of the Marxist Democrat Party. Otherwise you aren’t included or welcomed. The amazing Hubris, feeling things would always stay the same because they have Big Mouthes Running Nonstop Loudly at Warp Speed, railing at anything only “They” don’t like. The Rigidity and lack of willingness to accept anyone who dares disagree with them has been their self created and more than Deserving Downfall. The Marxist Democrats aren’t a big Tent. No they are a Dictatorship with those at the Top Demanding Fealty to the Leadership who always stays at the Top like the Totalitarians of every Failed Country and Government throughout History. Who in their right Mind would want to live in a country Run by these kind of Rigid, Unaccepting People who feel they are the Best, and Most Intelligent because THEY exist and Breathe. Normal People are exiting the Democrat Party of Petulant Children and Rightly so, It isn’t a Political Party, it’s an anti social Mob of Bullies and Malcontents who cannot have a Conversation without always having Demands that everything goes their Way. No-one is interested any longer in the Fascism!
Uhhh, correct me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t “inciting public riot/violence” a federal offense? Isn’t this what they used against the J6ers? How about a few of these loudmouth politicians get thrown in the clink? An overnight stay, or longer, would do them good.
Phillip remarked that the Democratic effort resembled a “piñata in search of a stick,”
I guess this means those brain pills are starting to work for Miss Abbey, good!