More than 10,000 demonstrators gathered in New York City on Presidents’ Day to oppose the current Trump administration and the actions of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in particular.
The gathering was one of several protests occurring in major cities nationwide on the same day, being held in tandem with smaller demonstrations taking place at Tesla dealerships across the country for the long weekend.
Protestors at Washington Square Park voiced alarm over the access DOGE had to sensitive information for millions of Americans and its demolition of federal institutions.
They viewed the engagement of Musk with DOGE as a covert scheme to attain monetary power, lamenting that an unelected person like Musk should possess so much power over the federal government.
Dmitri, 53, an architect who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “It’s incredibly alarming that [Musk] has access to our private information. He’s like a futurist enthusiast trapped in a sci-fi dream, trying to bring that vision to life, and he has the means to cause significant harm. He’s meddling with things he doesn’t fully grasp.”
Tom, a retired teacher of 55 held a sign that said, “No one voted for Musk.” He told TechCrunch, “While I’m not thrilled that many Americans supported Trump, it’s undeniable that no one cast a vote for Musk.”
Further, he alleges that no average MAGA supporter would have ever gotten Musk’s back, adding that he fears DOGE cuts might hurt people at the state and local levels and on the individual level.
He also remarked, “The concentration of power in the hands of billionaires is a terrifying prospect.”On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order setting up DOGE and empowering Musk, the billionaire behind SpaceX, Tesla, X, and more, to do away with government fraud, waste, and misuse of taxpayer money.
Business Journalist
Subscribe to our newsletter and get top Tech, Gaming & Streaming latest news, updates and amazing offers delivered directly in your inbox.
