In a violent and high-profile incident early Sunday morning, Edward Coristine — a 19-year-old former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and widely known online by his nickname “Big Balls” — was assaulted during an attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C. The attack occurred in the Logan Circle neighborhood around 3 a.m. while Coristine and his significant other were returning to their vehicle.

According to a police report, a group of approximately 10 juveniles approached the couple near their car. Coristine quickly moved his partner into the vehicle for safety before confronting the assailants. He was then violently attacked, suffering serious injuries including a concussion, a broken nose, and a black eye. His iPhone 16 was also stolen during the altercation. The attackers fled the scene but were interrupted by nearby patrol units who managed to arrest two of the suspects.

The two arrested individuals, both 15 years old (a male and a female) from Hyattsville, Maryland, have been charged with unarmed carjacking. Law enforcement continues to search for the remaining suspects, with the investigation still active. Authorities have not disclosed whether the attack was targeted or random, though sources suggest the area has seen a spike in youth-led crimes over the past year.

Coristine, known for his brash online presence and affiliation with DOGE — a controversial federal agency backed by Elon Musk during its brief existence — had only recently begun a new position with the Social Security Administration. His prominence on social media, particularly under the nickname “Big Balls,” had made him something of a cult figure among technocrats and digital-rights activists.

The violent nature of the attack has sparked a wave of political response. Former President Donald Trump was among the first to post about the incident, sharing a graphic image of Coristine’s battered face and declaring him “a hero” for standing up to lawlessness. Trump used the opportunity to call for sweeping juvenile justice reform and again pushed for federal oversight of Washington, D.C., claiming the city has failed to control rising youth crime.

Elon Musk, who previously oversaw Coristine’s role within DOGE, also weighed in. “Ed is one of the bravest young men I’ve met,” Musk posted on X. “He protected his partner and stood his ground. The system has failed him — and all of us. D.C. needs to be held accountable.”

Public reaction has been sharply divided. While some sympathize with Coristine and view the event as emblematic of urban decay and lax prosecution of juvenile crime, others have criticized the political exploitation of the event, particularly the sharing of Coristine’s injuries on social media without his direct consent.

As Edward Coristine recovers from his injuries, the nation is once again pulled into a wider debate about law enforcement, youth crime, and the role of federal government in city governance. Whether justice will be served for “Big Balls” remains to be seen, but the impact of this brutal event is already echoing through political and social circles.

In a violent and high-profile incident early Sunday morning, Edward Coristine — a 19-year-old former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and widely known online by his nickname “Big Balls” — was assaulted during an attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C. The attack occurred in the Logan Circle neighborhood around 3 a.m. while Coristine