Elon Musk is ready to take legal action against former Rep. Jamaal Bowman after the Democrat labeled him a “Nazi” and “thief” during a CNN segment. The X owner’s patience has run out with what many conservatives view as the left’s unchecked defamation campaign against prominent right-leaning figures.
At a glance:
• Elon Musk threatened to sue former Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman for calling him a “Nazi” and “thief” on CNN
• Bowman made the inflammatory comments while criticizing Musk’s competence and claiming Americans don’t trust him
• Musk responded on X, stating “I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound”
• Several Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Lee, voiced support for Musk’s potential legal action
• Bowman was previously censured by the House in 2023 for pulling a fire alarm to disrupt government negotiations
Democrat’s Inflammatory Remarks Spark Legal Threat
The confrontation began when former Rep. Jamaal Bowman appeared on CNN’s Newsnight program and launched into a personal attack against the tech billionaire. During the segment, Bowman didn’t mince words as he branded Musk “incompetent,” a “thief,” and most controversially, a “Nazi.”
Musk, who has increasingly aligned himself with conservative causes, quickly responded to the attack on his social media platform X. The Tesla CEO declared “I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound.”
Republican leaders immediately rallied behind Musk, with Senator Mike Lee of Utah encouraging the legal action. “Sue him! Defamation against conservatives can’t go unaddressed or it will never end,” Lee wrote.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., added her voice to those supporting Musk’s potential lawsuit, simply encouraging him to “Fight back!”
Pattern of Political Attacks Against Musk
This is not the first time Musk has faced accusations of Nazi sympathy from Democratic politicians. The latest controversy follows false claims that Musk performed a Nazi salute during a presidential inaugural – allegations that were thoroughly debunked by historians but nevertheless spread widely in left-leaning circles.
Musk’s mother had previously urged him to take legal action over those Nazi salute accusations, but the incident with Bowman appears to have been the final straw.
Bowman, who lost his seat in a Democratic primary to a pro-Israel candidate, has a controversial history in Congress. The House of Representatives censured him in 2023 after he pulled a fire alarm in an apparent attempt to disrupt government negotiations.
The former Congressman’s CNN remarks came during a discussion where he criticized Musk’s management decisions, particularly regarding alleged mass layoffs. “He’s incompetent. He’s a thief. He’s a Nazi. And people don’t trust him,” Bowman stated on national television.
Conservative Support for Legal Action
Conservative journalist Andy Ngo joined the chorus of voices supporting Musk’s potential lawsuit and stressed the serious nature of defamation. Many on the right have long argued that false accusations of Nazism or fascism have become too common in political discourse, with little accountability for those falsely applying the labels.
Conservative commentators believe Musk’s threatened lawsuit is a necessary pushback against consequence-free defamation.
