The Democratic party is gearing up to take on Elon Musk as their new political target in an effort to win back the working class. With recent polling showing a decline in Musk’s popularity, key Democratic leaders are ramping up their efforts to hold him accountable for his role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump.
Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the Oversight committee, has tried to subpoena Musk and introduce legislation to block him from receiving federal contracts while he leads Trump’s cost-cutting efforts. Connolly has been vocal in his criticism of Musk, calling him a billionaire who doesn’t care about working-class families.
Even moderate Democrats, like Rep. Jared Golden from Maine, are joining in on the criticism. Golden referred to Musk as an “unelected, weirdo billionaire” and expressed concern over the speed at which Musk is making changes to the government. He emphasized the importance of eliminating waste and fraud in the government but cautioned against moving too quickly and making mistakes that could harm working-class Americans.
Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley and has had a relationship with Musk, is also distancing himself from the billionaire. Khanna recently stated that Musk’s attacks on institutions are unconstitutional, despite previously praising him as a key player in government mobilization efforts.
Democratic strategists believe that targeting Musk will resonate with Trump’s working-class base, as many view Musk unfavorably. Internal polling conducted in battleground districts found that a majority of voters have a negative view of Musk, citing concerns over his influence on government decisions.
Congressional Democratic leaders are taking action to address these concerns, suggesting that Musk’s close ties to the Treasury Department could compromise key safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has criticized Musk for potentially undermining democracy by allowing his lieutenants access to sensitive personal information tied to these programs.
Despite their efforts, Democrats face an uphill battle in challenging Musk’s influence in the Trump administration. Legislation aimed at restricting Musk’s Treasury access is unlikely to gain traction among Republicans, and attempts to subpoena him have failed. Nevertheless, Democrats remain committed to holding Musk accountable for his actions and ensuring that working-class Americans are not adversely affected by his decisions.
