Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk told podcast host Joe Rogan on Friday his concerns over mainstream media portrayals that he says might incite violence against him.
At his first cabinet meeting under President Donald Trump, Musk reported receiving numerous death threats amid criticism of his leadership at DOGE, which has aggressively cut federal spending. During an appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Musk criticized the media for, as he said, labeling him in extremist terms which, he argues, could potentially motivate violence.
“At this point, I think I’m at the top of the list for a lot of homicidal maniacs,” Musk said. “They’re doing the same thing to me that they did to Trump, which is that they’re making it sound like if you kill me, you’re a hero.”
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Musk called these actions “evil,” adding that the media distortions were not only personal attacks but a dangerous manipulation of public perception. Reflecting on his shifting public persona, Musk said there’s an irony in his transformation in the media’s eyes from a celebrated innovator to a villain.
“I’m the same person that I was a year ago. Nothing’s changed really. Like I didn’t suddenly become a completely different human. But if you read the sort of legacy mainstream media, their propaganda stream is that I am a completely different human,” Musk said. “But I didn’t get like a brain transplant in a year. And let’s say like two years ago, I was like a hero of the left. So how can I go from hero to villain at age 53 suddenly?”
The corporate media previously slammed Musk for his chainsaw-wielding appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a gesture symbolizing bureaucratic dismantling. They also linked him to mass layoffs during the Trump administration aimed at eliminating wasteful government spending through DOGE.
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Since taking office on Jan. 20, DOGE has terminated more than 200,000 federal jobs across multiple agencies, citing efforts to reduce waste. Significant cuts include 120 to 150 probationary employees at the Internal Revenue Service in Denver, Colo. and approximately 300 at the Federal Aviation Agency, following directives from the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, the private sector saw a staggering 16.4 million layoffs and discharges in 2024 alone. The contrast highlights the stability traditionally associated with government employment, which peaked under former President Joe Biden with 23.5 million local, state, and federal workers.
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.