Elon Musk Frustrated He’s 'Getting Attacked Like Crazy' Despite Doing Everything For US

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur turned political reformer, voiced public frustration on Saturday over what he perceives as an unrelenting wave of criticism directed at him amid his controversial efforts to overhaul the U.S. federal government. Speaking virtually with Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini during a League Party event, Musk defended the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative he now heads.

“I don’t understand why I’m getting attacked like crazy,” Musk said. “Everything we’re doing is for the good of the American people. All we’re doing is eliminating obvious waste and trying to make the government function more efficiently.”

His remarks come as protests swell across the country, with opposition mounting over the sweeping reforms his office has enacted in just three months.

DOGE, launched in January under the renewed Trump administration, has been Musk’s principal platform for executing what he calls a "radical simplification" of the federal apparatus. A technocratic reimagining of government, the agency’s goal is to minimize what Musk deems bloated bureaucracy and redirect resources toward innovation, infrastructure, and national security.

In response to growing skepticism, Musk emphasized DOGE’s purported openness: “Any action that we make, we post on the doge.gov website, and we post on our X account, so it’s extreme transparency,” he told Salvini.

Yet critics argue that transparency does not equate to accountability. And the backlash—both public and political—has been swift.

A report released this week by Challenger, Gray & Christmas reveals that DOGE’s reforms have led to the termination of over 216,000 federal employees across multiple agencies, including the Departments of Treasury and State, the Social Security Administration, USAID, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The cuts have sparked alarm among watchdog groups and labor unions, who warn of long-term institutional damage and service disruption for vulnerable populations.

Musk insists the cuts are not only justified but overdue. “We’re only cutting the most obvious terrible expenses that make no sense,” he argued. “Nonetheless, we get attacked like crazy.”

The “obvious waste,” according to DOGE’s official releases, includes redundant administrative layers, outdated software procurement programs, and what Musk has repeatedly referred to as "legacy decision trees"—bureaucratic processes with little modern relevance.

One high-profile example includes the consolidation of several Department of State grant-writing divisions into a single AI-managed platform. Another was the dissolution of the Office of International Climate Reporting, which Musk labeled "symbolic bureaucracy with no measurable impact."

Yet critics question whether these moves are fiscally prudent or ideologically driven. Senator Elizabeth Warren called DOGE’s actions “a blunt instrument wielded with reckless abandon,” warning that the mass firings are “destabilizing to our civil infrastructure.”

Over the weekend, the opposition hit the streets. The “Tesla Takedown” protests, staged in over a dozen cities including San Francisco, Atlanta, and Washington D.C., saw thousands gather to protest what they perceive as Musk’s overreach—not just in government, but in society at large.

“We didn’t elect Elon Musk,” said civil rights organizer Tracy McMillan at a rally in Chicago. “Yet he’s making decisions that affect millions of Americans.”

The demonstrations, coordinated alongside nationwide anti-Trump rallies, frequently centered on Musk’s dual roles as CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) and his new political power. Critics allege a dangerous consolidation of corporate and governmental authority.

Musk’s defenders, however, see a man bringing tech-world efficiency to a historically slow-moving bureaucracy. “Elon’s being crucified for trying to do what politicians have promised and failed to do for decades,” said Dave McIntyre, a policy analyst with the Libertarian Institute. “He’s not part of the swamp. That’s why they hate him.”

The philosophical underpinnings of Musk’s reforms lie in a libertarian-techno hybrid ideology that favors decentralization, automation, and minimal state interference—except in defense and national infrastructure.

In private memos leaked last month, DOGE staffers described their goal as creating a “government that runs like a startup: lean, scalable, and future-proof.”

However, policy experts warn that while startups can pivot and fail without catastrophic consequence, governments serve as safety nets for entire populations. “A 30% efficiency gain in a company is great,” said Dr. Mariana Lyons, professor of public administration at Georgetown University. “A 30% efficiency gain in Social Security could mean delayed payments for millions.”

Indeed, anecdotal reports from field offices suggest that service times have lengthened, confusion is rampant, and morale among remaining federal employees is at historic lows.

Musk’s alignment with President Trump has only intensified the partisan divide. While conservative lawmakers praise DOGE as a brave experiment in modern governance, Democrats and centrists warn that the agency may become a vehicle for political purges.

With the 2024 presidential election looming, both Trump and Musk have become lightning rods for debate over the role of government in American life. If Trump seeks reelection, it is increasingly likely that DOGE—and Musk’s influence—will become a core issue in the campaign.

“Trump gave Musk the keys to the engine room,” said political strategist Ava Gomez. “Now the question is: will voters want to take them back?”

For his part, Musk seems unfazed by the noise. “This isn’t about left or right,” he told Salvini. “This is about efficiency. It’s about doing what’s right for the country.”

Still, he admitted the backlash has been more intense than expected. “It’s very difficult to reduce the size of the bureaucracy and government spending,” he said. “It comes with immense opposition, even when the things we are cutting make no sense at all.”

As Musk continues to forge ahead with what he frames as necessary disruption, his political profile grows more prominent—perhaps more than he intended. Whether he’s remembered as a reformer, a disruptor, or something else entirely may depend not just on the numbers—but on the stories Americans are beginning to tell themselves about the role of government, technology, and who gets to lead.