'Where's Elon Musk?' Democratic Rep angrily calls out missing 'genius' at DOGE hearing

Source: The Independent

Thursday 13 March 2025 12:18 EDT


A House committee hearing turned explosive when Connecticut Congressman John Larson blasted “genius” Elon Musk for not showing up to a hearing concerning the cuts he was overseeing through the Department of Government Efficiency. The Connecticut Democrat criticized the committee’s GOP leadership, accusing it of following whatever President Donald Trump and Musk tell them to do, rather than acting independently.

The hearing considered two resolutions put forth by Democrats, including one by Larson, asking for information into DOGE’s plans. Chair Jason Smith responded by accusing the Democrats of attempting to “undermine the critical work being done” under Trump to root out waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government. “My Democrat colleagues claim their concerns are about process and careful vetting, but the truth is that they have never found an ounce of government fat that they are willing to trim,” Smith said.

When it was his turn to speak, Larson lit up. “We’re an equal branch of government and you start off with a blather, and yet look at the empty seats here,” the Democratic Congressman said, raising his voice at the Wednesday hearing. “Where’s Elon Musk?” he said, pointing to empty chairs. “I’m sure he’s a genius and a very credible person for the wealth he’s accumulated but that doesn’t put him above the law or the responsibility to come before this committee in this Congress.”

“If he’s so great, if these plans and all the fraud and abuse that he’s found are so imminent, why isn’t he here explaining it? You know why! Because he’s out to privatize Social Security,” said Larson, the ranking member of the subcommittee on social security. “He’s been on television the last couple of days talking exactly about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and what he intends to do: privatize it.”

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-doge-missing-democrat-b2714581.html