Elon Musk is drawing a legal line in the sand after a former congressman and progressive firebrand launched a verbal attack that set social media and cable news ablaze.
Jamaal Bowman, who once held a seat as a high-profile member of the left-wing “Squad,” unleashed a scathing critique of Musk during a recent CNN panel. He didn’t hold back, calling the billionaire tech mogul “incompetent,” a “thief,” and even going as far as to label him a “Nazi.” The comments quickly went viral—and Musk wasted no time responding.
“I’m done,” Musk wrote bluntly on X (formerly Twitter), reposting the clip. “Lawsuit inbound.”
This wasn’t the first time Bowman made headlines with incendiary remarks. After losing his House seat last summer to a more moderate Democrat—backed heavily by pro-Israel lobbying groups—Bowman has remained outspoken. During the panel, he claimed that Musk had shown gross mismanagement, citing mass layoffs at his companies that were challenged in court. “The courts ordered them back. That tells you everything,” he said. “This man is not fit. He’s dangerous.”
The allegations stirred strong reactions across the political spectrum. Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, took to social media to defend her son, urging him to sue CNN and others for spreading what she called “defamatory lies.” She referenced the resurfaced accusation that Musk had given a “Nazi salute” during a Trump inauguration event—a claim that Musk and his supporters vehemently deny.
The accusations didn’t stop with Bowman. Fellow progressive Rep. Ayanna Pressley recently referred to Musk as a “Nazi nepo baby,” further fanning the flames of controversy.
Meanwhile, Bowman’s own political career has faced turbulence. His defeat last July followed a contentious race in which he accused the pro-Israel lobby of spending millions to “brainwash” voters. He also drew sharp criticism for labeling Israel’s military actions against Hamas as “genocide.” In late 2023, Bowman was officially censured by the House after pulling a fire alarm in the Capitol, an act viewed by many as an attempt to delay a vote on avoiding a government shutdown.
Support for Musk’s legal threat has poured in from conservative figures. Journalist Andy Ngo, who has often clashed with far-left activists, backed the idea of holding CNN accountable. “It’s not legal to accuse someone of a crime without proof,” he posted. “Platforms that allow this without challenge risk legal consequences.”
Senator Mike Lee of Utah added his voice: “Defamation against conservatives must be challenged or it will continue unchecked.” South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace agreed simply: “Retaliate.”
Musk, who has increasingly waded into political waters, is also doubling down on his efforts to shape the future of American politics. He’s teaming up with conservative activist Scott Presler to energize Republican voters ahead of a critical Supreme Court election in Wisconsin. Through his political action committee, America PAC, Musk is channeling millions into the race—backing conservative candidate Brad Schimel.
Another Musk-supported group, Building America’s Future, is also spending big—pumping $1.5 million into ads supporting Schimel against liberal judge Susan Crawford. The stakes are sky-high: the outcome could shift control of Wisconsin’s top court, which in turn could dramatically affect congressional redistricting and, potentially, the balance of power in Washington.
In this clash of rhetoric and influence, what began as a TV panel may soon end up in a courtroom—bringing questions of free speech, defamation, and political power to the forefront of America’s cultural and legal battleground.
