Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) appeared on CNN News Central on Wednesday, where he made a striking call for Democrats to take more aggressive action against Elon Musk, suggesting the use of “actual weapons” in what he described as a fight to protect democracy.

When asked whether personal attacks against Musk were an effective strategy, Garcia did not hold back.

“Well, he is a dick, and I think he’s also harming the American public in an enormous way,” Garcia said. “What I think is really important and what the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight.”

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Garcia framed Musk’s influence as a direct threat to democracy and urged fellow Democrats to step up their opposition.

“This is an actual fight for democracy, for the future of this country, and it’s important to push back on the chairperson of this committee,” he said.

Garcia also criticized Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and dismissed her calls for bipartisanship and decorum in congressional proceedings.

“Marjorie Taylor Greene talks about having decorum, about bipartisanship. This is the person that lies more than anybody else in the entire Congress,” Garcia claimed.

“If she is going to make a mockery of hearings, I want to make sure that us as Democrats are bringing that same level of energy.”

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He then turned his focus to Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration’s government reform efforts, accusing him of attempting to dismantle federal agencies.

“We went into exactly what Elon Musk is trying to do. Dismantling the Department of Labor, dismantling the Department of Education, dismantling all of our consumer protection agencies, and so it’s all important,” Garcia said.

Garcia asserted that Democrats need to ensure the public understands the stakes, while continuing to target both Musk and Republican lawmakers.

“It’s also important to get the attention of the American public and call Elon Musk out for what he is and to make people know that Marjorie Taylor Greene is not a serious legislator, and she shouldn’t be treated as such,” he added.

Garcia’s comments come as the Trump administration, with Musk’s assistance, moves forward with efforts to reduce the federal bureaucracy.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk, has been auditing various agencies, uncovering financial mismanagement and questionable expenditures.

One of the key areas of focus is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has come under scrutiny for its allocation of taxpayer dollars to international programs.

Musk and President Donald Trump have decided to place USAID under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has vowed to ensure taxpayer funds serve national interests.

“Every dollar spent abroad must further our national interest,” Rubio stated, citing concerns about USAID’s lack of accountability.

Recent reports on USAID’s financial activities have revealed large-scale spending on controversial programs.

In the 2022 fiscal year alone, USAID sent 65.5 million condoms, 9.8 million injectable contraceptives, and 334,000 intrauterine devices (IUDs) to developing countries as part of family planning initiatives.

Additionally, USAID issued a $2 million grant to Guatemala to promote “gender-affirming care” and LGBTQ activism, a move that has drawn criticism from conservative lawmakers who argue such expenditures do not align with core American interests.

As the Trump administration continues its efforts to downsize federal agencies and cut wasteful spending, opposition from Democratic lawmakers, including Garcia, is intensifying.

Not only did Rep. Robert Garcia go on CNN and call for “actual weapons” to be used against the Trump administration, he posted about it from his official US Government account on .

This guy is a lunatic. Expel him from Congress @SpeakerJohnson. What are you waiting for? https://t.co/zQ7QS5toJf

— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) February 12, 2025

The pushback highlights the growing political divide over the role of the federal government, with Trump and Musk leading an aggressive campaign to reshape bureaucratic structures.

With Garcia openly calling for escalation against Musk and labeling him a direct threat to democracy, the battle over government efficiency reforms is expected to intensify in the coming months.

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