Anticipated Rise in Anti-Musk Protests During Congressional Recess

NEW YORK — As tensions rise within the Democratic Party, the spotlight shifts from President Donald Trump to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk this week, with activists mobilizing against the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to federal healthcare, education, and human services.

Numerous protests are set to unfold outside congressional offices and Tesla dealerships as organizers aim to deliver a clear message to Congress members who are currently on their summer break.

Although the intensity of this backlash does not yet rival the protests seen during previous inaugurations, a diverse coalition of Democrats and progressive organizations is uniting against Musk’s increased influence as a key ally of Trump’s administration.

“He’s a significant vulnerability within the MAGA coalition,” remarked Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive organization Indivisible. “I don’t believe anything polls as poorly as the richest man’s agenda to cut Social Security benefits or programs like Meals on Wheels or Head Start.”

Indivisible, claiming to have over 1,300 local chapters across the country, is encouraging its members to demonstrate at the offices of their congressional representatives, regardless of party affiliation. The group has also provided detailed instructions for protests at Tesla dealerships, Musk’s electric car manufacturer.

Within their guidelines, protesters are advised to remain on sidewalks and in public areas and to avoid disrupting business activities, specifically by not blocking entrances or trespassing. Furthermore, protests targeting Tesla should concentrate solely on Musk’s political maneuvers, rather than his business ventures like Tesla, SpaceX, or X.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is also launching a “national tour to combat oligarchy,” which includes stops in working-class communities in Iowa and Nebraska this week.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will embark on his first road trip as party leader, traveling to states like Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri in the coming days to engage with local party officials and labor leaders, as per spokesperson Hannah Muldavin.

Similar to the activists, Martin is likely to leverage Musk’s involvement in discussions. During a gathering with labor leaders in Pittsburgh, he intends to underline Musk’s recent interference with the Department of Labor, potentially jeopardizing vital data related to unemployment and inflation, crucial for both the economy and workers, Muldavin noted.

In reaction to the strong dissatisfaction expressed by their party’s base, several House Democrats are taking initiative.

Prior to the recess, the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee circulated a memo urging Democrats to engage in “nine days of visibility,” emphasizing the necessity for each member to host at least one town hall—whether in-person or via phone—and one community event that stresses the significant consequences of Trump and Musk’s policies.

This wave of protests comes at a pivotal time as increasingly fractured Democrats are attempting to counteract the Republican president’s dismantling of federal agencies, including significant layoffs in departments relating to public health, education, veterans affairs, and human services.

Recent firings at the Department of Veterans Affairs reportedly include experts focused on cancer treatment, opioid addiction, prosthetics, and research on burn pit exposure, according to U.S. Senator Patty Murray from Washington state. Additionally, cuts have affected more than 5,000 employees at Health and Human Services and about 10% of the workforce at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In some instances, Musk’s team seeks to eliminate entire agencies—including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—under Trump’s endorsement and without legislative approval.

Trump has characterized these reductions as essential for removing waste and inefficiency and has praised Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), mentioning its discoveries of alarming inefficiencies. Recently, he signed an executive order augmenting Musk’s authority.

In defending his ambitious cuts across the federal landscape, Musk did acknowledge that there had been some errors.

While Democrats in Congress decry the actions as perilous, they find themselves without control over either chamber, limiting their options to legal recourse. Nevertheless, three major progressive organizations—Indivisible, MoveOn, and the Working Families Party—are joining forces for this week’s protests, aiming to convey a strong demand for increased action from elected officials in both primary political parties.

Yet, members of Congress may also encounter backlash from their constituents.

MoveOn, with nearly 10 million members, is coordinating numerous rallies outside town halls and congressional offices, particularly targeting those representatives who do not organize public engagements. The focus will include “persuadable House Republicans whose support is essential in combating the Trump-Musk agenda,” according to MoveOn’s outline for the recess week. Additionally, rallies will also aim at prominent Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.

“We’re witnessing a genuine resurgence of energy in opposition to the actions of Trump, Musk, and the Republicans,” stated MoveOn’s executive director Rahna Epting, adding that public sentiment is one of significant frustration.

The Working Families Party plans to concentrate protests in areas represented by vulnerable Republicans within states like California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The demonstrations will feature individuals directly affected by the Trump administration’s decision to cut services, including special education instructors, nurses, and Head Start educators, as shared by Working Families representative Ravi Mangla.

“A lot of Republicans,” Mangla commented, “have not faced sufficient scrutiny for their actions.”