Senator Thom Tillis, a republican from North Carolina, posted a video to X on February 12, 2025, which showed a poster in Washington, D.C., featuring the words “Eliminate Elon.” Tillis made a video where he condemned the poster. The senator said that Elon Musk’s actions are vital to ensure that the government is well run.
Tillis speculated on who could have made this poster. As the poster featured USAID imagery, there is a chance it was sponsored or allowed by federal workers. Social media users were enraged by the poster and many advocated for strong legal action. However, some were annoyed by the lack of action to prosecute threats against Trump’s cabinet.
In his post, Tillis expressed his disgust. He said, “This disgusting threat was made against @elonmusk for helping President Trump eliminate government waste and protect taxpayer dollars. We need to find out who paid for this and who allowed it to be posted.” The North Carolina republican also attached a video to his post.
In the clip, he wondered if federal employees played a part in the creation of the poster. He said, “So we’re at 400 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, and this is what we see in a government advertising box. We don’t know if the government allowed this or an individual, but targeting individuals, hopefully only using USAID logo.”
He concluded his remarks by defending Musk. He added, “It better not be funded by them or endorsed by them, the President is asking serious questions about where taxpayer dollars are going and whether or not it’s the best and highest use. I, for one, think that Elon Musk and President Trump are doing right by the American taxpayers asking those questions. This is what’s wrong with the process.”
One user chimed in with their thoughts. They said, “Elon Musk is a hero for standing up against bureaucracy and protecting taxpayers, we can’t let threats silence him. The fact that someone felt emboldened to make this threat is disturbing, it’s time to hold people accountable for their actions. We need transparency on who was behind this threat and what their motives were, no one should be above the law.”
Watch the clip here:
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Another added that the framing of this issue is dishonest and Democrats are afraid of accountability. They wrote, “USAID isn’t about aid—it’s a front for corruption, money laundering, and regime change. Billions wasted with no oversight while the Deep State goes after Trump to keep their secrets buried. They fear an audit more than anything. ”
Some comments expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of arrests. One reply read, “We are done with strongly worded letters and vertu signaling. It’s time for you guys to start hold people accountable and I want to see some people in handcuffs.” Another added, “This needs to be taken very seriously. We’ve had 2 different assassination attempts on President Trump! Investigate and prosecute!”
One reply read, “The only reason anyone would be angry about the discovery of mismanagement, fraud, and waste is if they were directly benefiting from it and/or complicit. It shouldn’t matter whether you’re left or right…being AGAINST those things should be a universal value.”
Featured image from embedded video