NEW YORK (AP) — While Donald Trump is the president, billionaire Elon Musk has become the focal point for thousands of Democratic activists launching a protest campaign this week. The campaign aims to counter the Trump administration’s efforts to cut funding for federal health, education, and human services agencies. Hundreds of protests are planned outside congressional offices and Tesla dealerships, with organizers hoping to send a clear message to members of Congress, who are on recess this week. Although the backlash has not yet reached the intensity of protests during and after Trump’s first inauguration, a loose coalition of Democrats and progressives is forming around Musk’s role as Trump’s top lieutenant and his overhaul of the federal bureaucracy. n nEzra Levin, co-founder of the progressive group Indivisible, which claims over 1,300 local chapters nationwide, describes Musk as a “major weak link in the MAGA coalition.” Indivisible is encouraging members to protest at the offices of their members of Congress, regardless of political party, and has provided a step-by-step guide for protesting at Tesla dealerships. The guide emphasizes staying on sidewalks and public spaces and avoiding actions that might interfere with business operations. n nVermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is also launching a “national tour to fight oligarchy” with stops in working-class districts of Iowa and Nebraska. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will travel to several states to meet with local Democratic officials and labor leaders. Martin plans to highlight Musk’s recent focus on the Department of Labor, which could put the integrity of economic data at risk. n nThe House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee has instructed Democrats to host town halls and community events to highlight the “devastating impacts” of Trump and Musk’s actions. The wave of protests comes at a critical moment as Democrats struggle to stop the Republican president’s purge of the federal bureaucracy, which includes thousands of layoffs in departments focused on public health, education, veterans affairs, and human services. n nIn some cases, Musk’s team, with Trump’s blessing but without congressional approval, is trying to shutter entire agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Education, and the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Trump has defended the cuts as necessary to eliminate waste and fraud, while Musk has acknowledged mistakes but defended the extensive cuts. n nDemocrats in Congress condemn the moves as dangerous, but with limited control, they are turning to the courts and coordinating protests to send a clear message to elected officials. MoveOn, which has nearly 10 million members, is hosting rallies outside town halls and congressional offices, focusing on persuadable House Republicans. The Working Families Party is also organizing protests in the districts of vulnerable Republicans, featuring people directly impacted by the cuts. n n— news from The Associated Press
