CNN Panelists Throw Down Over Musk Staffer’s Racist Statements: ‘Don’t Even Go There!’

Two CNN panelists threw down Friday night while discussing the ongoing drama surrounding a member of Elon Musk’s DOGE team who resigned after previously writing racist remarks.

Marko Elez, a 25-year-old software engineer who has been working closely with Musk to slash funding and employment at government agencies, stepped down Thursday when it was revealed he wrote last year, “Normalize Indian hate,” among other statements.

Vice President JD Vance and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) traded barbs on social media Friday afternoon after Elez was rehired by Musk. Vance called for Elez to be shown grace while Khanna was not so forgiving.

On CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, Khanna spoke about his social media exchange with Vance about Elez before progressive writer Touré and GOP strategist Lance Trover got into a tense exchange.

“In a world where DEI and critical race theory and affirmative action are under attack, I feel like we’re protecting white supremacists and racists and attacking Black and brown people who want to be part of the fabric of the country,” Touré said. “And I’m curious how the vice president would explain to his Indian children why he stood up for somebody who said, ‘Normalize Indian hate.’ Like, what would he say? And that issue may not come up today.”

Democratic strategist Jenna Arnold said she believed Vance, whose wife is of Indian heritage, stood up for Elez to prove cancel culture is dead.

Trover then explained he felt Elez should be extended grace, citing his age before Touré cut him off:

TROVER: So what, he’s banished off into the desert for eternity? Like, wreck his life, wreck his career, send him off into –

TOURE: So you’re okay with racism in your party?

TROVER: Hold on, man, let me finish! That is not what I said, so don’t even go there.

Watch above via CNN.