Elon Musk sparks outrage with Sydney Sweeney meme as critics slam his ‘parasite class’ remark

WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk is in the headlines once again, this time for sharing a meme featuring actress Sydney Sweeney that many are calling tone-deaf and hypocritical.

The meme, which appeared on Musk’s social media platform, depicted Sweeney looking up admiringly with the caption, reported by Irishstar.

Elon Musk called out for Sydney Sweeney meme 

"Watching Trump slash federal programs knowing it doesn’t affect you because you’re not a member of the Parasite Class," the caption read.

Critics were quick to slam Musk for dismissing those who rely on federal assistance while benefiting from government contracts and subsidies himself.

One viral post pushed back against his message, stating, “He’s calling people who receive any kind of federal assistance ‘parasites’ while profiting heavily from every single government benefit he can get. The only parasite I see is Elon Musk. I’m so tired and disgusted.”

That sentiment struck a nerve at the time of writing, over 1 million users had viewed the post, further fueling debate over Musk’s political influence and controversial role in Trump's administration.

“Taxpayers fund government contracts, and he has no problems with that. The majority of Trump supporters rely on the programs @DOGE is cutting, and he calls them parasites," one person tweeted.

One user wrote, "This s***s beyond disgusting. The richest man in the world rejoicing at cutting off necessary support to the ‘parasite class'. He’s saying that the poor, the disabled, the mentally ill, the elderly are subhuman compared to him bc they lack his wealth and privilege and therefore they don’t deserve vital services. This should make you angry. This is class warfare, and there’s a very big chance you (like most people) and him aren’t on the same team," while another user commented, "What has doge actually done that benefit even one American citizen??"

A user lamented, "And their using a blonde woman in this is a coincidence...?"

Supporters of DOGE were quick to come to Musk's defense, arguing, "Another accomplishment."

"As @POTUS and @DOGE make more cuts, our taxes will eventually get lower since we won't have to fund all this fraud, waste, and abuse. How can any taxpayer be against this?" a user said.

Musk publicly endorsed Donald Trump during the 2024 Presidential election, he went on to deliver a speech at Trump’s inauguration one that left many disturbed by his bizarre Nazi-style salutes.

Since then, Musk has taken on a key position in the Trump administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The role has given him broad authority to cut federal spending, which critics argue has led to mass job losses and a disturbing concentration of power in the hands of the Tesla CEO.

What is DOGE and how does it operate?

Elon Musk, in his latest high-profile role, is spearheading a controversial government cost-cutting initiative under President Donald Trump’s administration. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory body created via executive order, has been tasked with aggressively reducing federal spending, including job cuts and operational overhauls. 

In a recent Oval Office briefing, Musk dismissed concerns of a “hostile takeover” of government functions, a charge leveled by Democratic opponents, as reported by BBC.

Despite its official-sounding title, DOGE is not a traditional government department. Unlike agencies that require congressional approval, DOGE was established through executive order and functions as a consulting body with embedded teams in various federal agencies. These teams, reportedly at least four members per department, have been given broad authority to identify inefficiencies and recommend cuts.

A significant focus of DOGE is modernizing IT infrastructure to enhance productivity, but the initiative’s primary goal remains cost reduction. The executive order mandates DOGE to complete its work by July 2026, raising questions about the long-term impact of its sweeping reforms.

Initially, Musk positioned himself as an external advisor, but later, the White House confirmed he holds an unpaid special government employee designation.