Backlash Against Airbnb: Co-Founder Joins Controversial Government Initiative

Airbnb is currently facing a significant backlash on social media, with many users calling for a boycott of the popular short-term rental platform. The criticism is largely directed at Joe Gebbia, one of the co-founders of Airbnb, who has recently accepted a position in a newly established U.S. governmental agency known as the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

This initiative, created under an executive order by former President Donald Trump, aims to reduce bureaucracy and eliminate wasteful government spending. The agency has already generated controversy, particularly due to its association with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who plays a pivotal role in Doge's operations.

On social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X, users are actively sharing their disapproval of Gebbia's involvement, expressing concern over the implications of a prominent tech leader taking a governmental role in a politically charged environment.

Gebbia took to X to publicly express his excitement about contributing his expertise in design and entrepreneurship to government efforts, stating that his first task will be to streamline the complex and outdated retirement process.

Reports indicate that Gebbia has shown admiration for the Doge initiative, which has fueled speculation about his close ties with Musk. Notably, he is already a board member at Tesla, which further intertwines his professional affiliations with Musk's ventures. Following the initial reporting of Gebbia's new role, Airbnb's stock experienced a notable increase, although it later fell back to previous levels.

Gebbia's connection to Doge marks him as one of the first high-profile appointments within the agency, which has predominantly been staffed by younger programmers. Recently, 21 employees from Doge resigned in protest over the agency's direction, with copies of their resignation letters being circulated among news outlets.

In addition to his new position, Gebbia has drawn attention for his past political contributions. He has historically supported the Democratic Party, contributing significant sums to campaigns for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, as well as additional funds for Biden's re-election campaign in 2023.

While Gebbia's political affiliations previously aligned with the Democratic Party, the tech landscape is witnessing a shift, with several prominent tech leaders openly supporting Trump. Notably, high-profile figures like Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichai were present at Trump's inauguration, despite their prior financial contributions to the Democratic Party.

Gebbia's net worth is estimated to be nearly $9 billion, largely attributable to his stake in Airbnb, which he co-founded in 2008. Over the years, he has gradually distanced himself from day-to-day operations but remains on the board.

Airbnb has long faced scrutiny from consumer advocates and local governments for its role in transforming residential spaces into short-term rentals, which can exacerbate housing shortages and inflate rental prices in urban areas. This latest controversy adds to a history of political entanglements for the company, including a 2018 decision to remove listings in the West Bank due to their connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After backlash and legal challenges, Airbnb later reinstated these listings, stating that the disputes had been resolved and profits would be donated to humanitarian causes.