Airbnb is facing boycott calls after its co-founder Joe Gebbia joined Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative to cut federal spending.
DOGE has already recommended dissolving agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and restructuring others. The initiative has drawn both criticism and support, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing 61% of U.S. adults back President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize the federal government.
Following the incident, social media backlash has emerged, with users on TikTok and X urging for a boycott. One viral post read: “Boycott Airbnb! There are other vacation rentals.”
Gebbia, who is also a board member of Tesla, recently announced that he voted Republican in the 2024 U.S. elections and the backlash was so severe, that Airbnb had to officially state that he hasn’t been involved in daily operations since 2022.
As of 2021, Georgia (the country) had approximately 12,000 active Airbnb listings, with Tbilisi accounting for over 7,000 of these properties. The average occupancy rate for Airbnb accommodations in Georgia was around 60%, with hosts earning an average monthly revenue of $500.
“Joe serves on Airbnb’s Board of Directors, but he has not been involved in day-to-day operations since he stepped down in 2022. Airbnb has always been about more than the viewpoint of any one person,” the official statement reads.
The users have begun deactivating accounts, however, the boycott’s impact is still uncertain.
