‘Lawsuit Inbound’: Musk Threatens He’s ‘Had Enough’ After Democrat on CNN Calls Him ‘Nazi’ and ‘Thief’
(Allison Robbert/Pool via AP)
Top Donald Trump adviser and tech CEO Elon Musk said that’s he’s “had enough” and that a lawsuit is “inbound” after a Democratic commentator called him a “thief” and a “Nazi” live on CNN this week.
Former New York congressman Jamaal Bowman drew some on-air distancing from host Abby Phillip on CNN Tuesday after his inflammatory comments about Musk, in a wild rant that went viral on social media.
“He’s incompetent, he’s a thief, he’s a Nazi, and people don’t trust him, period,” said Bowman in a panel discussion on Thursday’s CNN NewsNight.
A few minutes later as the contentious arguments between guests wrapped up, Phillip made a point of remarking to Bowman, “I just have to say, your opinion about Elon Musk is your opinion about Elon Musk.” That effort didn’t do much to stave off criticism.
Among those responses, after a user shared the clip with the comment “a lawsuit waiting to happen”, the DOGE honcho replied curtly, “I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound.”
Jamaal Bowman just called Elon Musk an "incompetent thief" and "Nazi" on CNN.
A lawsuit waiting to happen. pic.twitter.com/4ucENS8KT4
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) March 21, 2025
I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2025
Musk’s threat was met with many supportive replies and comments on the right, including from Sen. Mike Lee of Utah who said Musk should sue Bowman “into the Stone Age.”
Sue him!
Defamation against conservatives can’t go unaddressed or it will never end
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 22, 2025
Sue him into the Stone Age!
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 22, 2025
Musk did not elaborate on any pending lawsuit in subsequent messages on X but did retweet some user reactions, including one saying that the former congressman “must apologize to Elon Musk for lying about him and the apology must be public, on video.”
Jamaal Bowman must apologize to Elon Musk for lying about him and the apology must be public, on video. You can’t lie about someone and defame his reputation like this. You spend decades building a reputation only for liars to take you down in a minute. pic.twitter.com/LQkRsbintz
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 22, 2025
“You can’t lie about someone and defame his reputation like this,” the X user wrote.
The incident occurs as Musk’s company Tesla is under siege by protesters and has been victim to arson and vandalism across the country, including with accusations of Musk being a “Nazi” stemming from an awkward gesture at the inauguration that critics quickly characterized as a “Nazi salute.”
Despite the violence that has prompted a PSA from the FBI regarding the safety of American citizens, there has been no concerted effort among Democrats or media to call for toning down rhetoric like Bowman’s.
