Musk Threatens Legal Action After Jamaal Bowman Labels Him 'Nazi' and 'Thief' on TV

Elon Musk has fired back after former Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman called him a "Nazi" and a "thief" during a recent CNN appearance. Musk, clearly fed up with the accusations, announced his intent to pursue legal action, tweeting, "I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound." His response came after a clip of Bowman’s remarks circulated widely on social media.

Bowman, who lost his New York congressional seat in a Democratic primary to a centrist candidate last year, didn’t hold back during the panel discussion. He accused Musk of being incompetent, saying, "The American people do not trust Elon Musk and Elon Musk is incompetent in his position." He went on to claim, "He's incompetent. He's a thief. He's a Nazi. And people don't trust him." Bold words, even by today’s political standards.

The controversy surrounding Musk isn’t new. Left-leaning media outlets have accused the billionaire of giving what they described as a "Nazi salute" during a public appearance on Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, has been vocal about her disdain for such narratives, urging her son to take legal action against CNN and other outlets for promoting what she calls baseless claims.

Bowman, once a prominent member of the progressive "Squad," has been no stranger to heated controversies. He was defeated in July by George Latimer in a political race influenced by significant funding from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC. Bowman has previously drawn ire for his remarks about Israel, accusing the nation of "genocide" during its military actions against Hamas. In 2023, he faced a censure in the House of Representatives for pulling a fire alarm in an apparent attempt to disrupt government shutdown negotiations. Let’s just say, Bowman knows how to make waves.

Support for Musk’s lawsuit, meanwhile, has poured in from conservative circles. Journalist Andy Ngo commented that accusations such as these could expose CNN to legal risks. "Accusing people of crimes is not protected opinion," Ngo wrote. Senator Mike Lee and Representative Nancy Mace also jumped to Musk’s defense, calling for him to "fight back" against what they view as defamation.

It’s worth noting that defamation cases, especially involving public figures, are notoriously tricky to win. But Musk’s decision to escalate the situation with potential legal action signals that he’s not taking these allegations lightly. Whether this will lead to a courtroom showdown or just more public theatrics remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: Musk and Bowman both know how to keep the spotlight firmly on themselves.