Airbnb founder co founder joins Musk at new Dept of Government Efficiency

[Helen3]

I was shocked to read that Airbnb co founder Joe Gebbia is joining Elon Musk at this new government  department which has already sacked 10,000 in a government  witchunt - with no notice or reason.

It certainly doesn't align with the Airbnb brand of being open and welcoming to all.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/airbnb-co-founder-joe-gebbia-take-role-musks-doge-nyt-says-2025-02-...

[Suzanne1131]

Yes, I believe you should support the hosts. We can all promote inclusiveness despite his association with Musk (his stake is only 7% in the company). 

If enough pressure is put on them from guests and hosts, perhaps they can force him completely out.

[Frances3408]

@Pamela1559 . The vast majority of your booking revenue goes to that lovely hosting couple. Unless we go back to living in caves everything we buy whether its a good or service is somewhere tainted by connection with a business that we may not approve of in some way. Please go ahead and enjoy your vacation.

[Pam265]

https://www.airbnb.com/help/feedback

I’m a disgusted Host who now must boycott my own business. Please send your feedback to this link before we are ALL lose our businesses to these self serving Oligarchs!!!

[Megan1433]

Very disappointing. We have been guests for over ten years and hosting for over three. Will be doing neither going forward. 

[Pam265]

As an Airbnb host and someone who is horrified by this news as well, and who is now faced with boycott ing her own business, we the Hosts are the victims- not Joe Gebbia. Most of us are working class people who have put our hard earned money into making a beautiful safe space for  ourguests and have no affiliation with the oligarchs who are attempting to rule our world. Joe Gebbia owns 7%, so maybe if everyone sends feedback to Airbnb and demands he disassociate himself from the company maybe we can make a difference? To me, this doesn't make sense, because as we know the company's platform is diversity, inclusivity and welcoming to ALL.  Please send your feedback to https://www.airbnb.com/help/feedback 

[Teresa308]

Done. Sent a 'feedback complaint about Gebbia's participation in DOGE. Thanks for the link and suggestion!

[Scott2261]

Gebbia will destroy the Airbnb brand just as Musk has destroyed Tesla's brand, with plummeting global sales.  Stay out of politics!!!

[Pam265]

As an Airbnb host and someone who is horrified by this news as well, and who is now faced with boycott ing her own business, we the Hosts are the victims- not Joe Gebbia. Most of us are working class people who have put our hard earned money into making a beautiful safe space for  ourguests and have no affiliation with the oligarchs who are attempting to rule our world. Joe Gebbia owns 7%, so maybe if everyone sends feedback to Airbnb and demands he disassociate himself from the company maybe we can make a difference?  To me, this doesn't make sense, because as we know the company's platform is diversity, inclusivity and welcoming to ALL.  Please send your feedback to https://www.airbnb.com/help/feedback 

[Jonathan2763]

No reason? What about the 36 trillion dollar national debt and 2 trillion dollar federal budget deficits, and the 1 trillion dollars paid in interest on that debt each year. The result of decades of irresponsible and corrupt spending. “Just put it on the national credit card”.

The US economy (and the world economy as a result) is in danger of imminent disaster and cutting wasteful government spending is one of several important solutions offered at this time.

There is an incredible amount of waste and corruption in the US government and DOGE is doing what it can to fix this.

What is needed is not always comfortable or “nice” but the alternative of not fixing the federal budget is far worse and destructive for everyone. If the government collapses everyone loses their job. 

Working for the federal government at taxpayer expense is not an entitlement, it’s a privilege and an honor. And thanks to DOGE we can now reassess what is really serving the public interest and what is not. And hopefully reappropriate those funds for either paying off the national debt or perhaps other services that are in higher service.

[Pam265]

https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-governments-can-never-be-run-business

[Pam265]

Gebbia is making a political statement by taking a position with Doge. Now we are being boycotted and just like Gebbia your showed your political hand as well. Trust me, as many people would not want to book your Airbnb because of it. And for sure half of them would because of it. Can we agree as business owners, that politics affecting our income shouldn't be allowed?  

[Kia272]

@Helen3  Unfortunately, to those of us who live in the US and are watching this team of criminals and thugs systematically destroy our country, our government, and our democracy, shock is a thing long past. 
It seems that good people are now a minority in this country. 
Since  the (no longer) Supreme Court handed Donald tRUMP immunity on a platter, it’s no surprise that he feels he can do and say anything with impunity. 
The majority of the “recent” posts in the CC are on the subject of Joe Gebbia and hosts and guests taking their business elsewhere. Airbnb needs to do the right thing and force him off the board. 
The only power that we the people have at this point is how and where we spend our money. 

[Frances3408]

@Helen3 . As a landlord I learnt early on that my tenants didnt always have the same views as me. Was I unethical in taking their rent money? 

As I host on another booking platform as well it will be interesting to see if the booking dynamics shift for me going forward.

Just my 2 cents, of which yes, a percentage will still go to Airbnb.

[Helen3]

Yes I appreciate the majority of hosts and guests will continue to use the platform but I do believe Airbnb has strayed far from their original values and that it's important that we call out the founders for going against the values they espouse on their platform @Frances3408 

[Wendy1924]

Canceling my summer airbnb reservation due to this unfortunate news.