A pastor in Tennessee appeared to call for violence towards Elon Musk during his Sunday sermon following efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access information held by the United States Treasury.
Dr. Steve Caudle, the senior reverend at the Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, said that “sometimes violence is necessary” when the devil “acts so ugly” after speaking about DOGE.
“When Elon Musk forces his way into the United States Treasury and threatens to steal your personal information and your Social Security check, there is the possibility of violence,” he told his congregation in a video streamed on YouTube.
Musk responded on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter: “This tells me that he is trying to hide MASSIVE fraud.”
Newsweek reached out to Caudle’s church via email for comment.
Why It Matters
DOGE’s work has seen a mixed response from voters and lawmakers following its creation by President Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration. Headed by Musk, the world’s richest man, its aim is to root out excessive spending and waste across the federal government, but concerns have been raised over access to sensitive data and personal information.
What To Know
Caudle has reportedly been pastor of his church in Chattanooga since 2006.
A portion of Caudle’s February 9 sermon, “The Violent Kingdom,” was shared on social media. It included a verse from Matthew 11:12.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force,” the passage says.
Caudle told his congregation during the 40-minute sermon that he was worried that the country was on “the verge of bloodshed” following the change in leadership in Washington, D.C., including the moves made by Musk and those working with DOGE.
The pastor said he knew some would say that violence was not the answer, not the Christian way, but that Jesus spoke this way, referring again to Matthew 11:12.
“Sometimes the devil will act so ugly that you have no other choice but to get violent and fight,” the pastor said, prompting outrage from MAGA Republicans and local leaders. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk called the pastor’s words “disgraceful” on X.
Caudle later took to the church’s YouTube channel, saying he hoped that followers would listen to the entire sermon and that his words had been taken out of context. He claimed he was not calling for or inciting violence but simply speaking about the Bible’s words.
“We as Christians, at the same time, must stand up for what is right. We must speak out, we are to stand up for righteousness,” he said in the video, posted Monday.
Caudle’s church has little presence online, with its website seemingly taken down for construction and its Facebook page no longer in existence.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer issued a preliminary injunction that barred DOGE, which is not an official government department, from accessing the personal financial data of millions of Americans in Treasury Department records. He also ordered DOGE to destroy any records they might have obtained since January 20.
DOGE has also been influential in Trump’s plans for the downsizing of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ending the production of pennies by the Treasury, and efforts to cut back the Department of Education.
What People Are Saying
Weston Wamp, the mayor of Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, on X: “DOGE and the efforts of Elon Musk to make the federal government more efficient and accountable have the overwhelming support of the people of Hamilton County, TN. In fact, we have already launched a DOGE-inspired task force to eliminate waste in Hamilton County Government.”
Dr. Steve Caudle, in his video on Monday: “In terms of some of the politicians that may have been mentioned, I have no interest in bringing violence against them. It’s time for some peace. But we as Christians must speak the truth.”
What’s Next
Wamp said on X that Caudle would be removed from his position at the local Regional Planning Commission.
Caudle said he wanted viewers to watch his entire sermon and that Christians should continue speaking for justice and righteousness.
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