Elon Musk attacks U.S. judges over Doge ruling

Elon Musk has criticized U.S. judges following a federal ruling that found his recent actions regarding the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) likely unconstitutional. He described this as a "judicial coup" and called for Congress to impeach the judges involved. Musk has posted more than 20 times about these judges, labeling them as radical leftist activists. Musk's comments came as his initiative, called the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), faces numerous lawsuits. These legal challenges claim that Musk's sweeping changes to government operations, which included firing thousands of employees, violate privacy and transparency laws. Some courts have already acted against Doge, demanding greater accountability and reversing certain cuts. In response to the legal pushback, Musk is using his wealth to support those who share his views. He has donated to Republican lawmakers advocating for removing judges and launched a petition that offers money to voters for signing it. His efforts are part of a broader clash between the Trump administration and the judiciary, echoing past tensions where judges ruled against Trump on various issues. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, defended the independence of the judiciary, stating impeachment should not be used for disagreements over judicial decisions. Musk responded by claiming that judges acting against him and his policies are abusing the legal system. The legal issues for Doge grew when a federal judge ruled that Musk's efforts to shut down USAID were likely unconstitutional and ordered a halt to employee terminations and restoring their access to systems. Additional rulings have blocked Musk's access to sensitive data, intensifying the legal challenges he faces. As this situation unfolds, Musk continues to amplify his attacks online, echoing similar sentiments from both far-right commentators and international leaders who have criticized their own judicial systems. By linking his challenges in the U.S. to examples from countries like El Salvador, Musk is advocating for drastic changes to the judiciary.