Democratic Representative Maxine Waters expressed her outrage on Tuesday at a rally in Washington, D.C., where she criticized both President Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk regarding Musk’s access to sensitive Treasury Department information. Waters accused Musk of overstepping his boundaries, asserting that he had no right to access private data or exert control over U.S. payments. She further claimed that Musk was leveraging public funds to support his business ventures, including his space exploration company, SpaceX.
Waters’s remarks were part of a broader condemnation of Trump and other billionaires, whom she accused of attempting to dominate the political and economic systems of the country. Her passionate speech resonated with other Democrats present at the rally, including Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Jasmine Crockett, who echoed her sentiments and labeled Musk a threat to democracy.
The rally drew significant attention, particularly from conservative circles, where Waters’s comments sparked backlash. Some critics accused Democrats of inciting violence and chaos with their rhetoric, framing the discussion around Musk and the influence of wealthy individuals in politics as part of a larger partisan battle. This incident illustrates the ongoing tensions between progressives and conservatives regarding the role of billionaires in shaping policy and governance, particularly as figures like Musk continue to wield considerable influence in both the tech industry and public discourse.