Elon Musk Plans Lawsuit After Bowman’s On-Air Remarks Spark Backlash

A televised political debate has turned into a legal flashpoint after Elon Musk announced plans to sue former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for comments made on CNN. During the panel, Bowman described Musk using inflammatory language, including calling him a “Nazi” and a “thief.”

Musk responded on X late Friday with a brief statement that read, “I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound,” referencing the CNN segment where Bowman attacked both Musk’s integrity and qualifications.

The former congressman argued that Musk had mishandled mass firings and claimed the courts intervened, ordering employees to be reinstated. He added that the public didn’t trust Musk and questioned his ability to serve in his current government role under President Donald Trump.

Bowman, a member of the progressive “Squad” during his time in Congress, lost his primary race in July to Rep. George Latimer (D-NY). His campaign had been heavily criticized for its positions on Israel and for past conduct, including a 2023 incident in which he pulled a fire alarm during a budget standoff. That action led to a House censure and a misdemeanor charge.

Reactions to Bowman’s latest outburst were swift. Journalist Andy Ngo warned that such statements could carry legal consequences for both Bowman and CNN. He wrote that accusing someone of a crime on national television is not protected if left unchallenged. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) also chimed in, encouraging Musk to pursue the matter through the courts.

CNN host Abby Phillips briefly interrupted Bowman during the segment to state that his statements were his own opinions, not those of the network. But critics argue that CNN may not have done enough to push back on potentially defamatory remarks.

This is not the first time Musk has faced accusations tied to Nazi imagery. After a January event during Trump’s inauguration, left-leaning media outlets accused Musk of making a Nazi salute. Musk denied the accusation, and the Anti-Defamation League later described the gesture as awkward but not intentional.

Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, previously urged her son to take legal action against media outlets that promoted the Nazi salute claims.

Bowman currently runs the political group Built to Win, which he formed after leaving Congress.

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