In a heated moment on CNN, former Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman called tech billionaire Elon Musk an “incompetent thief” and a “Nazi.”
Yeah.
Those strong words quickly made headlines and blew up on social media.
Many Americans are asking: Did he go too far?
And what does this say about how some on the left treat successful business owners today?
What Happened?
Jamaal Bowman, who lost his re-election campaign last year, appeared on CNN and didn’t hold back.
When asked about Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Bowman called him “an incompetent thief” and “a Nazi.”
Former-Rep. Jamaal Bowman defamed @elonmusk on CNN by saying, “He’s incompetent, he’s a thief, he’s a N*zi, and people don’t trust him.”
Elon, please sue @JamaalBowmanNY into oblivion. pic.twitter.com/ZRifGLFKhA
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) March 21, 2025
Now, let’s be clear: Bowman gave no evidence for these extreme claims.
His comments came during a broader conversation about how billionaires influence politics, but even some people who don’t support Musk say Bowman crossed the line.
Conservatives—and even some legal experts—are now asking if Musk should sue for defamation.
In plain English, that means someone said something so harmful and untrue that it could damage a person’s reputation or business.
Why This Matters
Let’s take a step back.
Elon Musk isn’t just a businessman.
He’s someone who built PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX.
He’s pushing new ideas in energy, space, and even social media with his purchase of Twitter (now X).
But ever since Musk started speaking out against the “woke” movement and government overreach, he’s become a target for many on the left.
Bowman’s comments are just the latest in a long list of attacks on Musk—not for what he’s done wrong, but for daring to think differently.
When Speech Becomes a Smear
It’s one thing to criticize someone’s ideas. That’s healthy debate.
But calling someone a Nazi is serious.
Let’s remember: Nazis were responsible for the murder of over six million people during the Holocaust.
Tossing that word around just to score political points is dangerous and disrespectful—not just to Musk, but to actual victims of Nazi crimes.
Even folks who don’t like Musk are saying Bowman went too far.
Legal experts say that if Musk chooses to sue, he could have a case.
Under U.S. law, public figures like Musk have to prove that a false statement was made with “actual malice”—meaning the speaker either knew it was false or didn’t care if it was true.
Attacking Success
This isn’t just about one CNN interview. It’s part of a bigger pattern.
More and more, we’re seeing attacks on successful people who challenge the status quo.
If you run a business, question the government, or try to do things differently, you become a target.
And that should concern all of us—especially those who believe in limited government and free markets.
In a country built on the idea that anyone can succeed through hard work, we should be celebrating innovation, not attacking it.
What Critics Say
Some on the left argue that billionaires like Musk have too much power and use their money to influence politics.
They say Musk’s leadership at X (formerly Twitter) has allowed hate speech and misinformation to spread.
But here’s the thing: They don’t have to use his platform.
And in a free country, people are allowed to speak—even if others don’t like what they say.
It’s one thing to hold people accountable. It’s another to throw around dangerous labels and personal insults.
The Bottom Line
Whether you like Elon Musk or not, calling someone a Nazi with no evidence is wrong.
It’s divisive. It’s harmful. And it sets a dangerous example—especially for young people watching our leaders.
Jamaal Bowman’s outburst may have been an attempt to grab attention, but it also shows how far some are willing to go to silence those they disagree with.
In the end, we should all be able to disagree without destroying each other.
That’s what real freedom—and real leadership—looks like.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
