Maryland Congressman Kweisi Mfume's recent call for a "street fight" during a Baltimore rally has drawn criticism from conservatives, who accuse him of inciting violence. The rally, held outside the Social Security Office, protested Elon Musk's cost-cutting initiatives through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Mfume's statement, delivered on Monday, characterized the situation as a "congressional fight, a constitutional fight, a legal fight, and on days like this a street fight." He also referred to DOGE as "the department of government evil." His remarks quickly ignited a firestorm on social media, with conservatives questioning why the comments weren't receiving more media attention.

Several prominent figures voiced their concerns. Senator Mike Lee called Mfume's words "fighting words" and "not honorable." Others drew comparisons to past instances where political rhetoric was scrutinized for potentially inciting violence. Commentators also linked the incident to the Democratic party's approval ratings, suggesting such rhetoric could further damage public perception.

In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for Mfume clarified his remarks, stating that the congressman was advocating for grassroots engagement with voters and encouraging participation in the political process. The spokesperson emphasized that Mfume's words were not meant to be taken literally and that he supports efforts to eliminate government waste, fraud, and abuse.

The rally where Mfume spoke was part of a larger Democratic pushback against DOGE, with some arguing it poses a threat to democracy. Senator Chris Van Hollen echoed these sentiments, urging Musk to refrain from interfering with Social Security.

Conversely, Musk and other Republicans maintain that significant waste exists within federal entitlement programs and that DOGE's aim is to address this issue without impacting legitimate benefits. Musk cited the substantial amount of fraud within these programs as justification for DOGE's audits. He reiterated that the goal is to ensure the solvency of Social Security and safeguard benefits for deserving Americans. Data from Just Facts, a nonprofit research institute, supports Musk’s assertion, indicating billions in fraudulent or improper payments disbursed by the Social Security Administration in recent years.