Ro Khanna Tries to Backpedal After Threat of Lawsuit From Elon Musk

It would seem that Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) has ambitions for higher office because he certainly has been going all in trying to get attention. Except that he doesn't seem to understand he's making all the wrong moves by embracing radical leftist things like redistributionist wealth tax grabs and the scandal-plagued Democrat candidate for Senate in Maine, Graham Platner. He might get some leftist support, but meanwhile, he's doing himself in with the center that would be vital in a general election.

Khanna has not helped himself with all his posts about what could be done by grabbing more money from people like Elon Musk. As many pointed out, Khanna is very wealthy — why doesn't he kick in some of his many millions if he wants, for all the Democratic pet projects?

But then Khanna made things even worse by saying that Musk needed to be "subpoenaed" and investigated for what he did with USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). He said Musk had "possibly sentenced" 4.5 million children to death by dismantling USAID. He also threatened to investigate others if the Democrats got back into power.

But Elon was having none of that and threatened a lawsuit over Khanna's shameful comments.

Dem Accidentally Reveals Why We Should Never Vote for His Party

Then, as our sister site Townhall noted, Khanna appeared to realize he went too far, and begged Elon for a debate rather than a lawsuit.

.@elonmusk let's debate. You game?

I am for free speech, not lawfare. pic.twitter.com/gThLggxiOW
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) June 22, 2026

"I am for free speech, not lawfare," he claimed.

"Today, Elon Musk threatened to sue me, and he called on the Justice Department to put me in prison.
That's right. The world's richest person has spent all day tweeting, going after me. Why? Because I cited an academic study that his DOGE cuts may lead to the deaths of millions of children overseas.You know, Elon, I thought you were a free speech guy.

Then he claimed Musk was not going to intimidate him because he was the guy "who stood up to the Epstein class."

Um, Khanna just said Musk possibly sentenced millions of children to death — I don't think Musk wants to debate anyone unhinged enough to claim that.

Moreover, Khanna is the one who is in power — Khanna is the one who threatened to investigate Musk, subpoena him, and hold him "accountable." Accountable for what? Daring to save money and helping to stop the political gravy train?

Khanna was all for lawfare when he thought he could direct it at Musk; he's suddenly quivering when he could be held accountable himself for what he said.

Stood up to the Epstein class? Oh, please. He made false claims about four innocent men regarding Epstein in the process of whatever he thinks he did.

Elon posted in part:

All DOGE required was contact information of the recipients to confirm that funding was not fraudulent. No validated medical funding was stopped.
Anything that appeared to be legitimate lifesaving funding continued and is now administered by the State Department. If anyone had actually died as a result of DOGE, their names would be worldwide headline news!

Musk is busy being productive, while Khanna just seems to want attention and keeps digging that hole he's in deeper.

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