CHICAGO, Feb 24: Concerns over billionaire Trump advisor Elon Musk’s access to sensitive government data have raised alarms, particularly regarding the unregulated tech team he leads, which many see as a threat to privacy. In contrast, conservative voices celebrate this group.
Influential figures in conservative circles characterize Musk’s young engineers, predominantly in their early 20s, as some of the finest minds tasked with trimming the fat of the US government.
This comes at a time when young progressives feel marginalized by the Democratic Party, which is losing ground among younger voters, especially young men. Republicans are capitalizing on these contrasting perceptions in their marketing.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point, an organization focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, refers to these young engineers as “prodigies” and “all-stars” with extraordinary IQs.
“This is a Gen Z, millennial takeover of the federal government,” Kirk declared on his Feb. 4 podcast.
“Initially, we thought this shift would come from the left. But instead, it’s the older generation, the ‘nursing home regime’ driving the country towards decline. Now, the younger generation is stepping up to take control for the better.”
Following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has rapidly integrated into federal roles, effecting significant changes with little oversight and accessing sensitive taxpayer information.
Musk, noted as the world’s richest individual, has praised the DOGE team as “some of the best software engineers globally.” In a recent Fox News interview, Trump commended Musk’s staff as “exceptionally brilliant young individuals.”
“He attracts a young, highly intelligent group of people,” Trump remarked about Musk. “I refer to them as high-IQ individuals.”
Media reports suggest that numerous DOGE engineers have connections to Musk’s companies, while some are linked to his long-time collaborator, Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel. One engineer resigned and was swiftly rehired amid backlash over racist posts on social media. The Wall Street Journal connected 25-year-old Marko Elez to an account that posted controversial statements like “I was racist before it was cool” and “Normalize Indian hate.”
Kirk and other conservative podcasters have lauded the young engineers for contributing their skills to the Trump administration. Podcast host Jen Horn noted, “These kids … are fully immersed in these figures,” to which her co-host Katie Gorka responded, “I’ve always believed that these kids are ultimately our salvation,” during a February 4 episode of the “Happy Women” podcast.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy engaged in a debate with Hillary Clinton on Musk’s social media platform, X, concerning the Trump administration’s initiatives and the role of DOGE in enhancing aviation safety.
“They lack relevant experience,” Clinton responded to Duffy’s assertion that Musk’s team would provide valuable assistance. “Most of them aren’t even old enough to rent a car.”
Duffy countered emphatically, declaring, “We’re moving forward without your input because the American populace is eager for us to improve our transportation system. And indeed, we’re bringing along 22-year-olds.”
Republicans’ promotion of Musk’s engineers illustrates their successful efforts to engage younger demographics in the previous year’s election.
Trump’s opponent in the 2024 election, the former Vice President Kamala Harris, narrowly secured victory among voters under 30, with nearly half backing Trump, according to AP VoteCast, which surveyed over 120,000 voters. This was a significant drop from 2020, when Democrat Joe Biden captured around 60% of voters under 30 against then-President Trump.
Although other age groups also leaned towards Trump last year, the shift among the youngest voters was particularly pronounced.
For Alex Dwyer, the 28-year-old chair of the Kansas Federation of Young Republicans, the recognition of the young DOGE team has been thrilling, especially after feeling that young people were often overlooked in both the workplace and government.
“DOGE demonstrates that our skills and capabilities are starting to be valued,” said the Wichita-based financial analyst. “… The party has finally realized that if it wants to engage the youth, it must involve them in its activities.”
Trump’s campaign effectively connected with young men like Dwyer, who were anxious about economic issues and felt sidelined by the political gains of women and the so-called “culture wars,” noted Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute and author of the book “The Politics of Gen Z.”
By engaging with alternative media, including right-leaning podcasts and social platforms that amplify far-right views, Trump’s campaign resonated with young men. Deckman emphasized that the social media and podcast acknowledgment of DOGE reinforces the narrative that young men are being prioritized.
“Historically, the GOP has been viewed as the party of older, out-of-touch white males not ready to cede power, but now there’s a cultural shift towards recognizing younger contributors,” she stated.
“Meanwhile, Democrats have struggled to effectively pass the baton, leaving young people disillusioned.”
Sunjay Muralitharan, national president of College Democrats of America, expressed skepticism that DOGE—which he described as an “unconstitutional threat to American democracy”—would entice more young voters towards the Republican Party.
“Most young people can see through this superficial pandering,” he noted. “The image of the world’s wealthiest individual dismantling essential agencies is more telling.”
Nevertheless, numerous young individuals are making waves in the Democratic Party, such as gun control advocate David Hogg, who was recently appointed vice chair of the party, and Florida Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of the US House.
“Democrats do have many young people in significant roles,” stated John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. “They just need to enhance their visibility.”
He added that witnessing the tangible impact of DOGE’s engineers could signal to young voters the possibility of making a real difference, which might further hinder Democratic recruitment efforts from a generation already questioning the party’s achievements.
“Republicans are identifying a weakness on the part of the Democrats regarding young people and acting on it,” he concluded.
Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist and professor at Columbia University’s school of professional studies, indicated that many disillusioned young men might interpret DOGE as a demonstration of their potential to wield influence. He urged Democratic leaders to empower youth voices and diversify their messaging.
“If they fail to do so, Republicans will revert to their old tactics and continue to outmaneuver us,” he warned. (AP)
