A Democrat congressman issued an apparent call for violence against Elon Musk on Wednesday as outrage over DOGE’s efforts to downsize the government continues.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) appeared on CNN News Central with Brianna Keilar to discuss the DOGE subcommittee hearing, where he presented a picture of Musk and called it a “d**k pic.” Several Democrat colleagues also engaged in similar antics during the critical hearing.
CNN anchor Brianna Keilar questioned Garcia about his approach, appearing skeptical that his behavior would help Democrats counter Musk and the Trump administration’s policies.
“Do you think that calling Elon Musk a ‘d**k’ is effective messaging for confronting what is a potentially irreversible transformation of the U.S. government?” Keilar asked.
Rather than walk back his remarks, Garcia doubled down.
“Well, he is a d**k,” Garcia responded. “I also think he is harming the American public in an enormous way.”
Garcia then made an alarming statement, appearing to suggest the use of physical force against Musk.
“What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons against Elon Musk to this bar fight,” he continued. “This is an actual fight for democracy, for the future of this country.”
The remarks sparked immediate backlash, with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) announcing on X that she and other Republicans would be filing a motion to censure Garcia.
“The Left is officially out of control. Last night, Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia called for ‘ACTUAL WEAPONS’ to be used against Elon Musk,” Mace wrote. “How many more times will Democrats incite violence against the president of the United States or Republicans on national television?”
Censuring is one response, but Republicans argue that stronger action, including potential criminal charges, should be considered for lawmakers advocating violence.
