Their dispute unfolded in real-time across dueling social media platforms, with Musk accusing Trump of pushing a “disgusting abomination” of a bill that would balloon the national debt and cut support for vulnerable Americans. Trump, in turn, accused Musk of self-interest tied to electric vehicle mandates and even suggested terminating Musk’s government subsidies as a way to balance the budget.
But as this high-profile squabble dominates the political narrative, several executive orders are quietly making their way through the White House — orders that could deepen the administration’s authoritarian bent and severely impact Black Americans and other historically marginalized communities.
According to multiple advocacy organizations, Trump’s policies are reversing decades of civil rights protections and environmental justice safeguards, targeting Black communities through economic austerity, voter suppression, mass federal layoffs, and militarized policing. The Congressional Black Caucus recently denounced a new travel ban on predominantly Black and brown nations, calling it “a blatantly cruel and racist attempt to prevent select foreign nationals from accessing opportunities.” Simultaneously, Trump’s budget proposal would eliminate health coverage for millions — including more than 2 million in Michigan alone — while handing massive tax breaks to billionaires like Musk.
“This is not about fiscal responsibility,” said Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin during a People’s Town Hall. “It’s about redistributing wealth from the working class to the ultra-wealthy.”
Musk, who briefly led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before resigning, had promised to slash $2 trillion in spending. Instead, many of his cuts targeted federal agencies that serve communities of color, including USAID and agencies involved in public health, education, and food assistance.
Even more alarming are reports from the Center for Progressive Reform that Trump’s policies are being used to copy some of the darkest chapters of American history — from Jim Crow-era voter suppression to violent crackdowns on protest and free speech. The administration has threatened to curtail emergency disaster aid, fast-track environmentally hazardous projects through Black communities, and purge diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies. These moves, critics argue, are designed not only to dismantle protections for the marginalized but also to consolidate power for the wealthy elite while scapegoating the most vulnerable.
As Trump and Musk trade insults online, the consequences of their policies are already being felt on the ground. Public health programs are being slashed, environmental regulations rolled back, and federal workers — disproportionately Black — are being shown the door under new executive actions.
Some experts note that the public spectacle between the two men may be more than just personal fallout. It may be part of a strategy to distract from a calculated erosion of civil rights and economic protections.
“Don’t let billionaire theatrics distract from the authoritarian policies being enacted right now,” one policy expert wrote. “While Americans are glued to their screens watching a power struggle play out online, real damage is being done to civil rights, environmental protections, and the economic security of working families.”
