Why is Edward Coristine Called 'Big Balls'? Ex-DOGE Member Attacked by Teen Mob—Trump Responds

In a daring act of courage, 19‑year‑old Edward Coristine—known online by the cheeky moniker 'Big Balls'—rushed to protect a woman during an attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C., only to be left bloodied and bruised. His brave stand has now thrust him into the spotlight, drawing fierce condemnation from Donald Trump and praise from Elon Musk.

The former DOGE operative attacked by juvenile gang

Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer, was assaulted in the Logan Circle area at around 3 a.m. on Sunday by an estimated ten juveniles attempting a carjacking. Two 15‑year‑olds from Hyattsville, Maryland, were arrested at the scene. Coristine sustained a concussion and other injuries, and his iPhone 16—a phone valued at approximately $1,000—was stolen.

In a social media post, Donald Trump claimed he was 'beaten mercilessly by local thugs' in Washington, DC.

Donald Trump's Threat to 'Federalise' DC

The US president used his social media platform to share the news of Coristine's alleged attack and threatened a federal takeover of the nation's capital.

Trump wrote, 'Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of violent crime.'

He added, 'If this continues, I am going to exert my powers and federalise this city. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' But who is Edward' Big Balls' Coristine?

The Man Behind the Nickname

In early February, Coristine was one of two DOGE operatives granted access to a range of systems at the Small Business Administration (SBA).

As a result, DOGE was able to access the National Finance Centre. This system handles payroll and human resources for the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other agencies.

Coristine, 19 years old, was one of the first people hired by DOGE. He was initially a permanent government employee at the General Services Administration (GSA), but he later resigned. He later returned to work as a special government employee at the Social Security Administration.

Why the Nickname 'Big Balls'?

Earlier this year, Coristine told Fox News that he created his memorable nickname. He told host Jesse Watters that he used 'Big Balls' as a joke on his LinkedIn profile to challenge the platform's serious tone.

'Well, people on LinkedIn take themselves super seriously, and they're pretty averse to risk, and I was like, "Well, I want to be neither of those things." So I just, I set it and honestly, I didn't think anybody would notice,' Coristine explained.

The Attack on Edward Coristine

Coristine is in the news again after a picture of him, bloodied and bruised, was posted by Trump. The image has been widely shared on social media, reigniting a discussion about violence in the US capital. Elon Musk also commented on the issue on his X profile, expressing a similar opinion about possibly 'federalising' DC to reduce such incidents.

Even with the supposed disagreement between Musk and Trump, the Tesla CEO reposted the President's Truth Social message on X.

In the post, he provided a detailed account of what is thought to have happened to Edward Coristine. Without using his name, Musk wrote that a few days earlier, a group of violent young men 'tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC.'

After that, a DOGE team member, who is assumed to be Coristine, came outside to help the woman. According to Musk's account, he reportedly saved the woman, but he was 'severely beaten to the point of concussion' in the process.

The Heroic Reason for the Attack

Marko Elez, who claimed to be a friend of 'Big Balls', stated on X that he took the sad picture of Coristine. He said the 'official Rapid Response account of the Trump 47 White House' also shared the photo on the platform.

'I took this photo after Edward protected a young woman from an attempted carjacking by eight thugs near Dupont Circle,' he wrote. 'Violence like this in the heart of DC is completely unacceptable.'

The viral image of Coristine has reignited debate over crime in Washington and the broader role of federal oversight. While overall violent crime in D.C. fell by roughly 25‑35 per cent in 2024, the assault has emboldened calls from Trump and other Republican leaders for juvenile justice reform and federalisation of the capital.