Representative Ro Khanna has challenged Elon Musk to a debate after the tech billionaire called for the congressman's jailing. The dispute centers on Musk's decision to cut U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, which Khanna claims could lead to millions of child deaths.
The public dispute between a U.S. Representative and a prominent tech billionaire highlights ongoing debates about foreign aid, corporate responsibility, and the influence of social media in political discourse.
Representative Ro Khanna has challenged Elon Musk to a debate following a series of posts by the tech billionaire calling for the congressman's jailing. The public exchange stems from Khanna's criticism of Musk's decision to cut funding through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a move Khanna claims could lead to the deaths of millions of children globally.
During an appearance on the "IHIP News" podcast, Khanna stated that Musk "needs to answer for what he did" and called for him to be subpoenaed and investigated. He contrasted the celebration of Musk creating 4,400 millionaires with the potential consequences for millions of children due to the aid cuts.
Musk retaliated on his social media platform X, asserting that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he oversees, implemented a simple standard for aid distribution: providing contact information for recipients to confirm it was not fraudulent. He accused politicians like Khanna of being "liars and stock insider traders" who should be imprisoned, and suggested suing Khanna.
Khanna responded to Musk's posts, questioning his commitment to free speech and suggesting a debate instead of "lawfare." He highlighted that Musk, the world's richest person, was spending his day attacking him because Khanna cited an academic study on the potential impact of DOGE's funding cuts.