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A Democratic congressman is under fire from conservatives after suggesting a “street fight” while protesting against Elon Musk’s newly established DOGE office aimed at reducing government waste.
During a rally on Monday in Baltimore, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who has served Maryland’s 7th Congressional District since 2020, stated, “This will be a congressional fight, a constitutional fight, a legal fight, and on days like this, a street fight. Yes, we will stand.” This remark, made outside the Social Security Office, has led to widespread criticism.
Mfume, who succeeded the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, referred to DOGE as “the department of government evil,” indicating his firm opposition to its objectives.
Critics on social media quickly condemned Mfume’s comments. Many accused him of inciting violence, raising questions about why mainstream media outlets had not addressed his remarks more vigorously.
GOP Senator Mike Lee remarked, “A ‘street fight’ to stop cuts to wasteful spending? Those are fighting words. And they’re not honorable words.” A post from Red State writer Bonchie highlighted the ongoing scrutiny of political language, stating, “Remember when Trump pumped his fist and said fight after someone almost blew his brains out and the press claimed it was a call to violence?”
Republican strategist Matt Whitlock also weighed in, saying, “You can almost hear the Democrat party’s 31% approval rating slide further down a hill with clips like this. Not only are Democrats openly promoting political violence, they’re promoting political violence over funding trans surgeries in South America.”
Moreover, the Trump administration’s rapid response team posted on social media, stating, “WATCH: @RepKweisiMfume (D-MD) riles his supporters up for a ‘street fight’ against President Trump’s agenda on rooting out government waste and corruption.”
In response to the backlash, Women For America First Executive Director Kylie Jane Kremer asked, “So @realDonaldTrump, what’s the plan for dealing with Congressional members who are inciting violence? This has to stop, and there should be consequences for any member of Congress who continues to do this.”
The American Firearms Association, echoing similar sentiments, stated, “Dems calling for a ‘street fight.’ Never give up your firearms because we all know these Communist Dems are thirsty for blood!”
However, a spokesperson for Mfume expressed that the congressman was addressing the need for grassroots engagement. The spokesperson explained, “Congressman Mfume was talking about going neighbor to neighbor and person to person to fight to win the hearts, minds, and souls of disaffected voters who didn’t participate in the last election or who are turned off by the current process.”
The spokesperson reiterated Mfume’s commitment to addressing waste, fraud, and abuse in government, highlighting his role as Ranking Member of the United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations. This focus has involved working alongside Subcommittee Chair Pete Sessions to uncover issues like cost overruns at the Department of Defense and to combat fraud associated with government spending.
With the Biden administration scrutinizing various federal entities, the Social Security Administration has come under particular focus as part of the DOGE initiative. This has elicited strong pushback from Democrats, who argue that the DOGE office represents a constitutional crisis and undermines the democratic process.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland delivered a strong message at the Baltimore rally, insisting, “Elon Musk, keep your hands off our Social Security.” He accused Musk of leading “illegal raids on federal agencies” with his DOGE crew and warned that this could lead to corruption.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s DOGE initiative hinges on accusations of inefficiency and waste within the federal entitlement system. Musk and other Republicans have countered that claims of widespread fraud justify efforts to streamline government services.
In a recent post, Musk stated, “At this point, I am 100% certain that the magnitude of the fraud in federal entitlements exceeds the combined sum of every private scam you’ve ever heard by FAR. It’s not even close.”
Senator Lee further defended the initiative, asserting, “On no planet does @DOGE want to take away anyone’s Social Security check. And on no planet is violence warranted by what @DOGE is actually trying to do—stop waste, fraud, and abuse in government.”
Musk, responding to criticisms, reiterated, “The goal of auditing the Social Security Administration is to stop the extreme levels of fraud taking place, so that it remains solvent and protects the social security checks of honest Americans!”
According to nonprofit research institute Just Facts, the Social Security Administration disbursed approximately $2 billion in fraudulent or improper payments in the previous year. This amount, they noted, was sufficient to provide the average annual old-age benefit to tens of thousands of retired workers.
The discourse surrounding this incident highlights a growing divide in American political dialogue as both parties navigate the complexities of government accountability and engagement in contentious discussions.
