On Presidents’ Day, over 10,000 demonstrators assembled in New York City to voice their discontent with the existing Trump administration, with particular emphasis on the activities of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This protest was one among many that transpired across the nation on the same long weekend, with smaller demonstrations taking place at Tesla dealerships throughout the country.
Interviewed by TechCrunch in Washington Square Park, protesters expressed concerns over DOGE’s access to sensitive information of countless Americans, and the dismantling of federal agencies. They criticized Musk’s involvement with DOGE as a subtle attempt at financial dominance, expressing their concerns over Musk’s unprecedented influence over the federal government, despite not being an elected official.
Dmitri, a 53-year-old architect, voiced his apprehensions to TechCrunch about Musk’s access to personal data. He criticized Musk’s futuristic ambitions and accused him of not fully understanding the potential damage that he could inflict.
Tom, a 55-year-old retired teacher, expressed his concerns surrounding Musk’s unregulated power, and the potential harm DOGE’s actions could cause to Americans on various levels. He further emphasized his alarm over the concentration of power under billionaires.
DOGE was established by an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office. This order handed over the responsibility of rooting out government fraud, waste, and taxpayer dollar abuse to Musk. Since then, DOGE has cut numerous federal jobs and government contracts, and even dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Despite controversy over their security practices and the legality of their actions, Trump granted DOGE access to the Treasury department’s digital payments system. This system controls massive payments to Americans, including Social Security benefits and tax refunds.
While supporters of Trump and Musk commend their attempts to eradicate corruption and inefficiency, critics argue that DOGE’s actions could lead to increased corruption and national security risks. Legal challenges alleging lack of transparency and data privacy violations have followed.
The NYC protesters marched from Union Square to Washington Square Park, chanting anti-Musk slogans. The NYPD estimated the protest to have over 10,000 participants. Victoria, a 37-year-old teacher and protester, described the situation as a coup.
Corwin, a 39-year-old business owner, criticized Musk’s personal and financial benefits from his anti-regulatory stance. Musk’s actions have led to a decrease in Tesla’s brand value, with some customers selling their Teslas in protest. The company’s sales have also been affected, particularly in Europe, due to a controversial gesture by Musk at the president’s inauguration. This gesture led to a call for a Tesla boycott in Poland, and several German companies severing ties with Tesla.
