A Tennessee pastor is under fire after a sermon in which he suggested “the possibility of violence” in response to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to access federal Treasury records.
Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, has been pushing for transparency in federal spending, including investigations into fraud and waste within government programmes.
In a sermon on 9th February, Rev Steve Caudle of Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church (GSMBC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, claimed Musk’s efforts could threaten Americans’ Social Security and bank account information, warning that violence might become necessary.
His words, captured in a viral YouTube clip, have sparked widespread condemnation.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has called for Caudle’s resignation from the Chattanooga Regional Planning Commission, denouncing his remarks as “totally unacceptable”.
Amid the controversy, GSMBC’s website has been taken down, and attempts to contact the church have gone unanswered.
Musk responded on X, suggesting Caudle’s comments were a cover-up for “MASSIVE fraud.”
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer has blocked Musk’s department from accessing Treasury records.
In an interview with News Ch. 9, Caudle denied inciting violence, insisting his words were “taken out of context” and accusing Musk of twisting his sermon for propaganda.
Despite public pressure, he has refused to apologise, releasing a follow-up video to clarify his stance.