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-...

[Rosemary81]

Hi Helen, Could not agree with you more. I have written a post re this, and hope other hosts, if they can, will delist as I am. Thank you 

[Pam265]

Please send your feedback to https://www.airbnb.com/help/feedback 

We have to be HEARD. 

[Dorothy335]

Deleted the app yesterday and will now check the other platforms mentioned in this thread - or just go back to hotels. 

[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  our guests 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? 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 

[Laurelle3]

@Helen3  I think this is difficult to take in these circumstances in, while watching from another part of the world.

I understand why many hosts feel unsettled by Joe Gebbia’s move to DOGE, given its recent actions. While his decision doesn’t reflect Airbnb’s values, it’s disappointing to see a founder align with something so divisive.

As hosts, we have to remain committed to openness and community, regardless of external politics. Let’s focus on what we do best—welcoming guests and supporting each other.

Take care and I think we have to do a little planning but at the same time take one day at a time.

Finishing on a positive note,

I put on a Airbnb hosts Community meetup/gathering called "Love is in the Air(bnb)". and was held the day before Valentines Day.

We had 10 Hosts attending to share their little bit of "Love "for their Airbnb's 

                    

Hosts from South Coast (NSW) Airbnb Community. I made the table decorations to fit in with the theme 

Laurelle from Downunder

[Pam265]

Thank you Laurelle for your words that speak the TRUTH. 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? 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 

[Joanne952]

I agree. I will reconsider listing with this organisation, we must vote with our feet even when they are very small feet indeed.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Helen3 and all others commenting on the CC about DOGE.

What's the problem? The US population elected Trump and his mini-me Musk with a majority of the vote AND every swing state.

They have been given a mandate so surely they should be allowed to execute it. So what if free speech and privacy end.

So what if they give Ukraine to Russia on a plate.

I really do not understand why so many are against Trump only a few months after he was elected. Did the American population not know what they were voting for?

[Crystal3]

He was not elected by a majority. Only 1.5% margin of winning votes. Unfortunately, the US has the Electoral College which makes it look like any candidate wins with a majority.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Crystal3 The definition of a majority is where one candidate gets more of the popular vote than the other. 1.5% is actually quite a large majority in presidential elections. The electoral college doesn't make it look like a majority at all The fact Trump got 2.2 million votes more than Harris is what makes it look like (and be) a majority.

Please try and keep it truthful even if you don't like the result. Its bad enough that the Orange one lines continuously.

[Nerissa9]

There is no reason to be distasteful in your response to another human being, @Mike-And-Jane0.

You stated in your original comment, "The US population elected Trump and his mini-me Musk." This is not true.  @Crystal3 was accurate in her response.

The current president was not elected by the majority of the U.S. population, as you implied, and you want others to believe.

In response, you stated, "a majority is where one candidate gets more of the popular vote than the other." Crystal did not disagree about who won the majority of the popular vote. She simply added that it was by "only 1.5% margin of winning votes." 

Crystal was not lying as you accused her of doing and she did keep it truthful. Same as I have.

I'm in full agreement with you that "it's bad enough that the Orange one lies continuously". Therefore, please try and keep it truthful even if you don't like a person's response.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Nerissa9 Oh dear - I said Trump was elected 'with a majority of the vote'. AND HE WAS. There is nothing distasteful in telling the truth.

[Bill1740]

You, my friend are wrong.  A majority is achieved when a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.  Trump DID NOT!  He received 49.8%.  That is called a plurality.  Please, when you contradict a person, make sure you are correct with your facts!

[Crystal3]

The recent German elections had the winner at 28% and second-place at 20% and the media called that a “close” race with no mandate.                                                                               Actually IMHO 1.5% is not a large amount of popular vote to win by.                                                     In 2020 election Biden won by 4.5% of the vote 51.3% to 46.8%, but by Electoral College votes he won 306-232 (56.8%-43.1%) a difference of 13.7%.                 The 2024 election Trump won by 1.5% of the vote 49.9% to 48.4%, but by the Electoral College votes he won 312-226 (57.9%-42%), a difference of 15.9%. Just goes to show that although only winning by 1.5% of the popular vote in 2024 vs a loss of 4.5% in 2020, Trump had a larger majority of the 2024 Electoral College votes. Never was a fan of the Electoral College vote, because it does not really show the true results. A candidate can win some of the larger Electoral College States and not win the popular vote and still be the victor. That has happened 5 times in USA. The last two were G.W. Bush in 2000 and Trump in 2016 (Clinton won by 2.8 million votes). So Trump should have done what the majority voted for?

A Democratic country rules by majority vote; a Constitutional Federal Republic (USA) rules by Constitutional Laws. By saying the “majority “ won and has a mandate you are suggesting that we are a Democratic society which is what our forefathers were against when writing the Constitution. American forefathers were also against King George III’s monarchy rule which Trump is trying to become.

Pertaining to your question; “Did the American population not know what they were voting for?” I can only speak from my experience. I saw Trump speak at a business meeting in the early 1980’s. Wish I had the foresight to record that speech. He was saying the same rhetoric as today, 40 years later, isolationism, backing out of NATO and making other countries pay for US protection. There are several videos and printed articles online backing this up. I believe he was a Democrat then, later a Reform Party candidate and finally a Republican. He also stated back then he was for a National Healthcare Plan (‘99 Larry King) and would never trust Russia. Hmmm? As a registered, voting Republican for 44 years, I did not have to do anymore research in ‘16 or ‘24 before voting. I knew exactly what we were dealing with. Narcissistic people take hold of people in strange ways (victims) and they cannot see through the lies. We’ve all seen this in personal relationships where you try to tell the person being controlled and they refuse to see it. Take care.

[Helen3]

Thanks all for your insights into the US election system.

I'd love to hear from US hosts from how the Airbnb brand is being seen by the media and public linked to Gerbia'a involvement in DOGE and the dismantling of services supporting diversity and inclusion?