California Congresswoman Sparks Controversy with Unsubstantiated Allegations of Tech Interference

March 5, 2025 - Washington, D.C. – Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), a veteran lawmaker and vocal critic of President Donald Trump, has ignited a firestorm of debate by publicly suggesting that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk may have leveraged advanced technology to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Speaking at a rally in her Los Angeles district on March 4, 2025, Waters pointed to Musk’s vast technological empire—spanning Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X—as a potential tool for electoral manipulation.

“Elon Musk, with his high-tech ass, may have hacked our last election,” Waters declared to a crowd of supporters, her remarks quickly amplified across social media. The statement, lacking any concrete evidence, appears to target Musk’s high-profile support for Trump during the 2024 campaign, which saw the tech mogul donate over $130 million to pro-Trump causes and use X to promote the former president’s agenda.

Waters’ comments come amid ongoing Democratic frustration following Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in November 2024. While election officials and security experts have repeatedly affirmed the integrity of the 2024 vote, some party members have echoed Waters’ skepticism, pointing to Musk’s Starlink satellite network and his ownership of X as possible avenues for interference. Theories circulating on platforms like Threads have speculated—without proof—that Starlink could have altered vote tallies in swing states or that X’s algorithm amplified disinformation to sway voters.

Musk, who has emerged as a key figure in Trump’s administration through his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), dismissed the accusation with characteristic flair. Posting on X late Tuesday, he wrote, “Maxine’s got a wild imagination—maybe she thinks my Cybertrucks were secretly ballot couriers? No evidence, no dice.” The response garnered millions of views, with supporters rallying behind Musk and critics accusing him of dodging accountability.

Election integrity experts were quick to debunk Waters’ claims. “Most voting machines in the U.S. aren’t even connected to the internet,” said Dr. Ellen Martinez, a cybersecurity professor at Georgetown University. “There’s no plausible mechanism for Starlink or any Musk-owned tech to ‘hack’ an election, and no data supports this narrative.” The U.S. Election Assistance Commission similarly reported no irregularities tied to technology in 2024, calling the vote “secure and transparent.”

Waters, undeterred, doubled down in a follow-up statement to reporters on Wednesday morning. “I’m not saying I have all the proof yet, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Musk’s got the money, the tech, and the motive—he wanted Trump back, and look what happened.” She also criticized Musk’s growing influence in Washington, alleging his unelected role in DOGE gives him unchecked power over government operations.

The controversy has reignited partisan tensions, with Republicans labeling Waters’ remarks as desperate election denialism—a charge Democrats once leveled at Trump’s 2020 fraud claims. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) quipped, “If Maxine’s got evidence, let’s see it. Otherwise, this is just noise from someone who can’t accept the people’s choice.”

Political analysts see the outburst as reflective of broader Democratic anxieties about Musk’s outsized role in American politics. “Waters is tapping into a fear that billionaires like Musk can bend democracy to their will,” said Sarah Ellison, a political strategist. “But without evidence, it risks undermining her credibility and fueling the very division she’s long fought against.”

As of now, no official investigation into Waters’ allegations has been announced. The story continues to unfold, with Musk’s supporters and detractors alike awaiting any substantiation—or retraction—of the congresswoman’s bold claim. For now, it remains a provocative footnote in an already contentious political season.