On February 5, 2025, demonstrators gathered outside Senator Ted Budd’s Asheville office to protest reports that Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Neuralink and former head of Twitter (now X), has been granted access to government records. The protests, held during both a 9:30 a.m. and a 3:30 p.m. session, were marked by heightened security measures that prevented protesters from entering the building, despite their efforts to engage with the State Director.
During the protests, some attendees made anonymous claims that they witnessed individuals inside Senator Budd’s Asheville office performing Nazi salutes. According to these claims, the gestures were abruptly altered to middle fingers when cameras were produced. However, these allegations remain unverified as no photographic or video evidence has emerged to support the reports. If anyone has further information on these salutes, we would love to hear from you via email at info@fulfilledsociety.com.
Protesters insist that their demonstration reflects a broader public demand for accountability and transparency, questioning the decision to allow a private figure such as Musk unfettered access to sensitive government databases.
In interviews with protesters, a common theme emerged: regardless of their differing political ideologies, there is a unanimous call for stricter oversight. Many expressed concern that merging private enterprise with the management of public data could erode established security protocols and undermine public trust in government institutions.
The organizers of the 9:30 AM protest, Indivisible AVL, Stronger Together WNC-N, and Madison County Indivisible have urged the public to press Senator Budd to vote “No” on confirming Vought and to make it clear that they believe Elon Musk should not have access to critical social security or national security information.
For constituents wishing to voice concerns about Elon Musk’s data access or the office’s response to the protest, contact Sen. Budd’s office through the following channels:
- Phone: 828-333-4130 (Asheville, NC office)
- Email: Via contact form on his official Senate website: www.budd.senate.gov
- Mail: 1500 Pinecroft Rd., Suite 3400, Greensboro, NC 27407
- Social Media: Twitter/X: @SenatorBudd
