Backlash Against Chris Murphy's Overnight Efforts to Block Musk's Government Cuts
Senator Chris Murphy received backlash for his overnight protest against Elon Musk's government cuts, as he shared his experience on social media. Conservatives mocked his motives despite his efforts to defend democracy.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy faced significant backlash on social media after a post where he shared his experience of staying up most of the night drinking Red Bull to protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives. In his post, Murphy expressed that democracy is "on the line" if Democrats do not act to stop Musk's efforts.
"After taking the 2-5am shift on the Senate floor last night for our overnight protest, got 2 hours of crappy sleep on my office couch and right back at it today," Murphy wrote on X. "We don't rest. Keep going. Democracy on the line."
The senator's post was accompanied by a photo of a Red Bull and a video explaining his cause. He had been trying to block the confirmation of Office of Management and Budget nominee Russ Vought until the perceived "crisis" due to Musk's DOGE initiatives passed.
Conservative commentators quickly ridiculed Murphy’s post, questioning his motives and the sincerity of his overnight work. Comments included sarcastic remarks from Fox News contributors and other critics who dismissed his late-night efforts as a mere publicity stunt.
Despite Murphy's protests, Vought was confirmed as the new White House budget chief late Thursday night. In a follow-up Instagram live post, Murphy clarified that he wasn’t trying to play the hero, emphasizing respect for various professionals working tirelessly, noting that he was paid to do his job as a senator.
Murphy stated, "I get paid to do this job, I asked. I raised my hand. I said, 'make me a United States Senator, I want to defend democracy.'" He also acknowledged the sacrifices of ordinary citizens attending protests, stating their involvement was significant despite their personal challenges.
The debate occurs against the backdrop of the Trump administration's criticism of USAID and other government spending initiatives, accusing them of wasteful practices.
