Tech billionaire Elon Musk says he’s taking former U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman to court. This comes after Bowman called Musk a “thief” and a “Nazi” on CNN. The clash happened Thursday night on “NewsNight with Abby Phillip.”
What Happened on CNN
The trouble started during a panel talk about upset voters at Republican town halls. Bowman, once a Democratic congressman from New York, cut off Joe Borelli, a former Republican New York City Council leader. Bowman said,
“The American people do not trust Elon Musk, and Elon Musk is incompetent in his position.”
He added,
“They fired tens of thousands of people, it was challenged in court, the court said the people have to go back, and now the people are coming back. He’s incompetent, he’s a thief, he’s a Nazi, and people don’t trust him.”
He was discussing Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump plan to cut federal spending that has stirred up debate.
Jamaal Bowman just called Elon Musk an "incompetent thief" and "Nazi" on CNN.
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) March 21, 2025
A lawsuit waiting to happen. pic.twitter.com/4ucENS8KT4
Musk’s Response
Musk didn’t wait long to react. On Friday, he posted on X, the platform he owns,
“I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound.”
People watching took notice fast. Some cheered Musk on, saying Bowman’s words went too far.
I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2025
Bowman’s Position
Bowman lost his House seat in the 2024 Democratic primary to George Latimer. He no longer has the legal shield that protects active members of Congress. This could make him open to a defamation case.
In the U.S., winning a defamation suit against a public figure like Musk is tough. It needs proof of real intent to harm.
CNN’s Reaction
Host Abby Phillip tried to step back from Bowman’s claims. She ended the segment by saying,
“Your opinion about Elon Musk is your opinion about Elon Musk,”
and stopped him there. As of Friday evening, neither Musk’s lawyers nor Bowman have said more.
Why This Matters
Musk has been in the spotlight a lot lately. His work with Trump on DOGE, his businesses like Tesla and SpaceX, and his control of X keep him in the news.
No lawsuit has been filed yet, but Musk has a history of following through on legal threats. People are keeping an eye on what he does next.
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