More than 10,000 demonstrators gathered on the President’s Day in New York City to speak out against the current Trump administration and the promotions of the Department of Government Efficiency by Elon Musk (Doge).
It was one of several protests This took place in large cities across the country on Monday and came on the same long weekend when smaller protests were protested Sproutes at Tesla dealers All over the country.
Demonstrators who spoke to Techcrunch from the Washington Square Park expressed concerns about the access of millions of Americans and the reduction of federal authorities by the group. They said that they regarded Musk’s work with Doge as a veiled attempt to take over a financial power and expressed the frustration that Musk, an un elected civil servant, had gained unprecedented power over the federal government.
“I think it is extremely dangerous that (Musk) has access to our personal data,” said Dmitri, 53, an architect who asked that his last name is not used towards Techcrunch. “He is a kind of futuristic fanboy that basically lives in a science fiction fantasy and tries to implement this and has the resources to cause mass quantities. He tinkers with something that he cannot actually understand. “
A 55-year-old retired teacher who only identified as a Tom and was a sign with the inscription: “Nobody voted for Musk” said Techcrunch: “As much as I don’t like the fact that a significant number of Americans voted for Trump It is absolutely the case that nobody voted for musk. “
Tom noticed that he did not believe that the average Maga supporter was voted on Musk and worried that DOGE’s cuts would violate the Americans at state, local and individual level.
“The consolidation of power among billionaires is a terrifying thing,” he said.
Trump signed an executive order at his first office to create Doge, and gave Musk, the billionaire of SpaceX, Tesla, X and other companies, the reins to eradicate government fraud, waste and abuse of tax money.
Since then, Doge has fired Almost 10,000 federal workers The everything edited, from the administration of the federal government to the care of military veterans. Another 75,000 workers have accepted the Trump administration’s buyout proposal, which offered the federal government and benefits from the federal government for eight months to leave their positions if they resigned in early February. Doge has it too Reduce 104 government contracts in connection with diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs and the reduction of the US Agency for International Development.
Trump also granted Musks Doge team Access to the digital payments of the financial department System, which controls payments to the Americans of billion dollars, from social security benefits to tax reimbursements, despite questions about their security checks, their cyber security practices and the legality of Musk’s activities.
Trump and Musk supporters welcome their efforts to exterminate on paper, corruption, inefficiency and bureaucracy. The opponents reject the way Doge organizes his declared goals and warn that the team’s actions will lead to more corruption and National security risks.
A wave of legal challenges has followed that a lack of transparency and Violations of data protection.
The demonstrators in New York started at the Union Square and marched to the Washington Square Park, and gathered under the legendary memorial arch, the George Washington, the first president of the nation. They sang “Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Elon Musk” and kept signs that announced a number of causes, but musk and doge were a common topic.
The New York police authority estimated the number of participants at more than 10,000.
Victen told the outlet“In the United States, we entitle decisions that we do not agree to – we do not ignore court commands or threatened judges with office survey just because we do not like the decision. This is a simple and simple coup. “
“This is not about the fact that we do not agree to Republican politics,” said Victoria, who bundled the cold winds that whip through the city, where the temperatures hovered by 32 degrees. “It is the fact that Trump handed over the power of the wallet to Elon Musk who is not chosen.”
When people played music and called, a 39-year-old small entrepreneur, who identified himself as Corwin, raised her homemade signs, said about Musk: “He is so conflict financially.”
Musk has stored several agencies on reduction or dismantling that regulates the industries in which its companies work. At the beginning of this month, Musk said that he wanted to eliminate the financial protection office of consumers, which would regulate the planned expansion of X to financial services and publish them in its social network X.CFBP RIP“Interrupted with a Tombstoneemoji. He has explained the intention to pursue the Federal Aviation Administration, an agency with which he previously got into conflict, and one that regulates SpaceX. He also asked end a rule This means that car manufacturers have to report accidents if autonomous driving technology is used.
Musk’s actions at the federal level have influenced Tesla’s brand image. During the income of the car manufacturer in 2024 2024, analysts Thomas Monteiro from Investing.com found that the hype around Tesla trends, among other things. ”Heavy brand devaluation. “”
Stories appear on People who sell their Teslas From the desire not to support Musk’s business. Some cybertruck owners have reported cases of vandalism and harassment. The sales of the car manufacturer who had a increased competition on the market and a outdated line -up Nazi greeted. Poland Sports and Tourism Minister Slawomir Nitras used for a Tesla boycott for a Tesla boycottand in Germany, several companies have Cut the ties With Tesla as a response to Musk support for both Trump and for the right -wing extremist political party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
