Rep. Ro Khanna challenged Elon Musk to a televised debate on Monday following an intense social media conflict over the Department of Government Efficiency's impact. The California congressman told CNBC he would debate Musk on CNN, CNBC, or at a university about DOGE's actions and wealth tax proposals. The challenge came after Musk said on X earlier Monday that Khanna should be sued or jailed for claiming DOGE's shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development could cause millions of deaths. The exchange occurs as Khanna emerges as a potential 2028 presidential contender and Democrats push new taxes on the wealthy.
Musk Calls for Legal Action Against Khanna on X
The online conflict began early Monday when Musk responded to Khanna's recent citing of a Lancet study. The study claimed cuts to USAID could cause the deaths of more than 4.5 million children. On a podcast on Saturday, Khanna said Musk "needs to answer" for the "4.5 million children around the world who he possibly sentenced to death by dismantling USAID."
Musk replied to a New York Post write-up of Khanna's comments, stating it's "Time to sue this liar." In a later post, Musk said: "The standard applied by DOGE was very simple and easy: Provide contact information for the recipients of aid, so that we can confirm it is not fraudulent. The reality is that money was being sent to corrupt politicians under the guise of aid! Liars and stock insider traders like Ro the Robber should be in prison!!"
"I challenge him to a debate ... do it on CNN, do it on CNBC, do it at a university, he can pick the setting and let's debate what happened at DOGE, let's debate why I'm for a wealth tax," Khanna said Monday in an interview with CNBC. "We can have a conversation of ideas if he believes in free speech and free expression about these issues."
Khanna acknowledged the intensity of the exchange: "It's not pleasant to have the world's richest person with the biggest platform on X go say you should be in prison and that he's going to sue you, and then I'm a liar. I'm taking on the richest person in the world, but I mean, I would hope that he would have an actual debate about it."
DOGE Shuttered USAID Last Year
DOGE, led by Musk, effectively shuttered USAID last year as it tore through Washington in an attempt to downsize the federal government and root out alleged inefficiencies. The Lancet study published findings claiming the cuts could result in more than 4.5 million child deaths.
Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment placed via a spokesman.
Silicon Valley Congressman Faces Tech Backlash Over Wealth Tax
The conflict represents another instance of Khanna facing opposition from his onetime Silicon Valley allies. A number of his former supporters threatened to abandon him earlier this year after he embraced a wealth tax in California.
In the Monday interview with CNBC, Khanna noted that Musk at times has been supportive of him, praising a book he wrote and his opposition to Twitter censoring a story about former President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. Khanna said Musk "lost it" over his citing of the Lancet study.
Khanna, who led a successful bid to release the Epstein files, said he doesn't plan to stop pushing against the wealthy despite representing one of the most affluent districts in the nation. "The most important moral test for the Democratic Party right now is, are you going to fight the Trump administration effectively, and are you going to fight the oligarchy," he said. "And with my work on the Epstein files, and now calling out Musk, I have taken on those fights."
FAQ
What did Ro Khanna challenge Elon Musk to do on Monday?
Ro Khanna challenged Elon Musk to a televised debate on Monday about DOGE's impact and wealth tax proposals. Khanna told CNBC that Musk could pick the setting — CNN, CNBC, or a university — to debate what happened at DOGE and why Khanna supports a wealth tax.
Why did Elon Musk say Ro Khanna should be sued or jailed?
Musk called for legal action against Khanna after the congressman cited a Lancet study claiming DOGE's shutdown of USAID could cause more than 4.5 million child deaths. On a podcast on Saturday, Khanna said Musk "needs to answer" for these potential deaths, prompting Musk to call Khanna a liar on X and suggest he should be sued or imprisoned.
What did DOGE do to USAID last year?
DOGE, led by Elon Musk, effectively shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development last year. The action was part of DOGE's effort to downsize the federal government and eliminate alleged inefficiencies. Musk stated that DOGE's standard required providing contact information for aid recipients to confirm the aid was not fraudulent.
