Late Thursday, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to pose a simple yet loaded question: Should his former aide, Marko Elez, be rehired despite his past controversial statements? The poll, offering only a “yes” or “no” option, amassed nearly 400,000 responses, with 78% of participants voting in favor of Elez’s return.
Elez, a 25-year-old tech expert, resigned earlier that day after reports emerged linking him to a since-deleted social media account that promoted eugenics and made racist remarks.
Some of his posts allegedly included statements like “normalize Indian hate” and claims that he was “racist before it was cool.”
Musk’s Loyalists Weigh In
The poll ignited a wave of reactions across social media.
Some Musk supporters, like S.E. Robinson, downplayed Elez’s remarks while urging Musk to address the issue privately.
Musk responded simply with, “True,” leaving many wondering where he truly stands on the matter.
Adding to the mix, speculation arose about another young Musk associate, Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old entrepreneur.
Some posts mistakenly conflated Elez’s controversy with Coristine’s business ventures, including a company he registered at age 16 called Sexy LLC.
The swirling rumors only added to the growing scrutiny surrounding Musk’s inner circle.
A Deepening Political Battle
Musk’s influence in politics has been growing, and the latest controversy only amplifies concerns.
He was recently featured on the cover of Time Magazine, seated at the presidential Resolute Desk—a not-so-subtle nod to his expanding reach in Washington.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new initiative aimed at slashing federal spending, has already sparked outrage for its aggressive cost-cutting measures.
Just this week, DOGE announced plans to terminate 9,400 USAID employees, leaving only 611 deemed “essential.”
The agency even recalled overseas personnel, drawing sharp criticism from congressional Democrats.
Aide’s Resignation Raises Red Flags
Elez’s name came into the spotlight following a legal battle over his access to Treasury Department payment systems, which contain trillions of dollars in transactions.
He was one of only two DOGE employees granted “read-only” access to these financial records, despite concerns over security and privacy.
Within hours of his identity being exposed, The Wall Street Journal uncovered his troubling social media history, leading to his resignation.
Virginia Congressman Don Beyer wasted no time in condemning Musk’s hiring practices, calling Elez’s appointment a “scandal.”
Beyer criticized Musk for giving a self-proclaimed racist access to sensitive government data, arguing that civil servants should be hired based on merit, not personal connections.
Musk’s Inner Circle Under Scrutiny
The controversy surrounding Elez is just one piece of a larger puzzle.
DOGE’s team, mostly composed of young men in their early 20s, has drawn skepticism from lawmakers and government officials.
Some of these recruits, including Akash Bobba (21), Ethan Shaotran (22), and Luke Farritor (23), have been granted top-level security clearance, raising eyebrows about their qualifications.
Meanwhile, Musk has defended his hiring choices, boasting on X that DOGE employs “some of the world’s best software engineers.”
However, critics argue that his reliance on a small, hand-picked group of loyalists is a reckless approach to government reform.
What’s Next for DOGE and Musk?
As the controversy unfolds, many questions remain unanswered.
Will Elez make a comeback despite the backlash? How will the courts rule on DOGE’s access to sensitive financial systems? And will Musk’s growing influence in Washington face stronger pushback?
One thing is certain: Musk is not backing down.
With his signature mix of defiance and unpredictability, he continues to reshape the conversation—whether the world likes it or not.
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