In February 2025, a screenshot of what appeared to be a post by tech billionaire Elon Musk circled the internet. People claimed he reposted a meme of actor Sydney Sweeney with the caption: "Watching Trump slash federal programs knowing it doesn't affect you because you're not a member of the Parasite Class."
Musk appeared to write above the meme image: Why 90% of America loves @DOGE" — meaning the recently established U.S. Department of Government Efficiency — which Musk apparently heads.
The claim spread across multiple platforms, including Instagram, X, Facebook and Bluesky. Media outlets such as The Daily Beast, The Atlantic Black Star and Times Now News also published stories about the post. An episode on the podcast
The X post is real; Musk did repost the meme (archived) with his own pro-DOGE caption and a laughing emoji on Feb. 12, 2025, at 10:35 p.m. (ET).
The X account @Liberty_Memes created the original meme (archived) with a watermark, but the version Musk reposted did not include the Liberty Memes watermark and instead featured the DOGE logo.
In sum, because Musk did repost a meme that called those who benefit from federal programs the "Parasite Class," we rate this claim as true.