A video circulating online captures an awkward moment where Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Maxine Waters attempt to lead a crowd in an anti-Elon Musk chant—only to be met with lukewarm participation.
Rally Amid Controversy
The rally took place in Washington, D.C., following the Trump administration’s decision to close the USAID offices and pause all foreign aid distributed through the agency. For the first time in history, USAID was placed under the authority of the State Department, a move that sparked protests from some lawmakers and activists.
Adding fuel to the protest was a report suggesting that Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team had obtained access to information regarding Treasury Department payment systems. According to C-SPAN, the rally was, in part, a response to these reports, which raised concerns among officials about transparency and oversight.
Musk and Government Oversight
A Fox News report indicated that Musk and DOGE had gained access to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, a Treasury agency responsible for disbursing trillions in federal payments, including Social Security checks and government salaries. DOGE, which was created to streamline federal spending, has faced scrutiny over its role in government financial operations and Musk’s increasing influence.
During the rally, Schumer voiced strong opposition to Musk’s involvement, arguing that such access posed a risk to public funds and financial privacy. “We cannot allow Elon Musk and a small group of people to secretly, behind closed doors, take away our privacy, take away our dollars, take away everything we have,” Schumer declared. His remarks, however, failed to galvanize the crowd into sustained chanting.
Public Reaction
Despite Schumer and Waters’ efforts to incite vocal opposition to Musk, the rally appeared to fall flat. A clip of the event posted to Musk’s social media platform, X, showed a lack of enthusiasm from attendees, leading to ridicule and criticism online. Many observers pointed out the irony of using a Musk-owned platform to protest his alleged overreach.
Meanwhile, supporters of Musk defended his actions, arguing that his involvement in government efficiency initiatives could help eliminate wasteful spending. Others, however, remain skeptical about the transparency of such efforts and whether they grant too much power to a private individual.
Ongoing Debate
As questions continue to swirl around Musk’s government ties, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for greater scrutiny of DOGE and its influence over financial systems. Some officials are pushing for hearings to examine Musk’s role in government affairs and the extent of his access to sensitive financial data.
While Schumer and Waters may not have succeeded in rallying mass opposition at their event, the debate over Musk’s government involvement is far from over. As new developments emerge, the issue is expected to remain a contentious topic in Washington and beyond.
LMAOO.. Chuck Schumer FAILS to start a chant..
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) February 4, 2025
The clip drew a litany of responses, most of them critical and mocking.
“This doofus will be ousted from his corrupt party,” one X user wrote.
“If you turn the sound off, he’s doing the Trump victory dance,” another posted.
“Kinda sad. It’s like watching a corpse uprising,” said another.
“They can’t do anything right. Not even that,” another user wrote.
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Musk criticized alleged “fraudulent” Treasury payments on Saturday, as reports emerged that DOGE had gained access to the federal government’s payment system. Fox added that the report comes as the second Trump administration pushes forward with efforts to reduce what it describes as government waste and overspending.
“The @DOGE team discovered, among other things, that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed always to approve payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups. They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once,” Musk, the chair of DOGE, posted early Saturday morning to X.
The @DOGE team discovered, among other things, that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed always to approve payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups.
They literally never denied a payment in their entire career.
Not even once. https://t.co/kInoGWdw4C
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 1, 2025