Michael Steele, who served as chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 to 2011, delivered a fiery on-air rant over the weekend, targeting Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Now a regular contributor on MSNBC, Steele directed his frustration at both Democrats and the Trump administration’s recent actions, particularly Musk’s growing role in federal operations.

During the segment, Steele accused Democrats of not doing enough to push back against President Donald Trump’s early policy moves and the influence Musk has gained through DOGE, which has been tasked with identifying and eliminating government inefficiencies.

Elon Musk Called This Financial News 'Terrifying'

“I’d just like you to show that you give a damn!” Steele said during the segment.

“That you get a little emotional about the fact that people are losing their jobs indiscriminately! That this individual sitting down at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has given absolute power to one man, who brings his son into the Oval Office, whose son says to him, ‘you’re not the president! You shouldn’t be in that chair!’ Now, where did he get that from? He got it from his daddy! Because that’s what his daddy thinks of the man who brought him into the Oval Office.”

His frustration escalated as he warned viewers about Musk’s growing influence within the federal government, claiming that his reach extends beyond social media.

“They’re in your bedrooms!” Steele continued.

“They’re in your living rooms! They’re in your businesses! They got your data, dumb a–! They got all your stuff! Elon Musk has his tentacles in everything you’re doing! Not just off of X, but he’s in the Treasury Department! He’s in the Labor Department! He’s in the Department of Homeland Security!”

Former RNC Chair Michael Steele suffering from severe TDS:

“[Trump] has given absolute power to one man who brings his son into the Oval Office who says to him, ‘You’re not the President!'”

“He got it from his daddy!” pic.twitter.com/Lav3N4x29L

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 16, 2025

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Steele’s comments reflect concerns among some establishment figures regarding Musk’s involvement with DOGE and his influence over key government functions.

Since Trump’s return to office, Musk has been tasked with overseeing efforts to eliminate fraud, waste, and inefficiencies in federal agencies, a move that has drawn pushback from political opponents.

The DOGE initiative has already led to major changes, including stricter financial tracking at the Treasury Department and investigations into government spending, including within the Social Security Administration.

The administration has maintained that these efforts are aimed at increasing transparency and ensuring taxpayer money is not misused.

Steele’s remarks are the latest in a series of criticisms he has leveled against Trump and his administration.

Since leaving his role as RNC chairman in 2011, Steele has become a vocal Trump critic, often appearing on MSNBC to denounce Republican leadership under the former president.

His tenure as RNC chair was marked by internal conflicts and election losses, with many conservatives questioning his leadership during a critical time for the party.

In recent years, Steele has aligned himself with media outlets that are consistently critical of Trump and his policies.

Steele’s outburst highlights the growing divide between Trump’s America First movement and establishment Republicans, many of whom have expressed discomfort with the administration’s aggressive push to reform government agencies.

While Steele’s criticism was directed at Musk and DOGE, his frustration with Democrats’ lack of response suggests deeper concerns about Trump’s continued influence over the federal government.

As Musk and DOGE continue their work across various agencies, opposition from establishment figures like Steele underscores the battle between Trump’s agenda and the entrenched bureaucracy in Washington.

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