Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele blasts Donald Trump and Elon Musk on MSNBC’s The Weekend, warning that the president has handed Musk “absolute power” over critical government agencies.
During a heated discussion with co-hosts Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders Townsend, Steele expressed frustration with both political parties, particularly Democrats, for failing to fight back against what he sees as a direct assault on the country’s democratic institutions.
When Townsend, a Democratic strategist, asked Steele, “What would you have us do?” the former RNC chair didn’t hold back.
“I would like you to show that you give a damn!” Steele fired back. “I’d just like to see somebody wake the hell up and get excited about the fact that your country is under assault!”
“Your country’s under assault!” Michael Steele explodes on-air, rips into Republicans for allowing what Trump and Musk are up to. (Video: MSNBC) pic.twitter.com/6UEyyyXcSI
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 16, 2025
Steele criticized both parties for their inaction, arguing that Musk’s growing influence within the U.S. Treasury, Labor Department, and Department of Homeland Security is being ignored.
“They’re not at the gate anymore,” Steele warned. “They’re in your bedrooms, they’re in your living rooms, they’re in your businesses… They got your data, dumbass. They got all your stuff.”
His comments come after growing concerns about Musk’s deepening ties to Trump’s administration, particularly his role as director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Critics argue that Musk’s expanding influence in federal agencies represents a dangerous consolidation of power.
“The hell with Republicans! They’re not going to do anything, they’re the problem!” he said.
Steele’s concerns come amid growing scrutiny over Musk’s role in the Trump White House. As director of DOGE, Musk has been granted oversight of federal agencies and government spending, raising serious national security and privacy concerns.
