Democrat Ro Khanna cited a 2025 study that estimated more than 14 million people could die without USAID resources by 2030

Elon Musk, the trillionaire CEO and former temporary government employee, threatened to sue Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna after the lawmaker accused Musk of “possibly” sentencing 4.5 million children to death by cutting funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Monday morning, Musk took to his social media platform, X, to lash out at Khanna for suggesting Musk’s deep cuts to USAID’s funding and workforce, while overseeing DOGE last year, may have led to millions of children dying.

“You know they’re celebrating that he created 4,400 millionaires, but they don’t talk about the 4.5 million children around the world who he possibly sentenced to death by dismantling USAID,” Khanna said on the “I’ve Had It” podcast over the weekend.

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    8·
    7 days ago

    Musk responded by calling the progressive Democrat a “liar” and “robber” while also accusing him of insider stock trading.

    “Time to sue this liar,” Musk wrote.

    Elon Musk, defender of free speech and known honest dealer. /s

  • Rentlar@lemmy.ca
    88·
    8 days ago

    Ok. Go ahead. Countersuing the “trillionaire” for punitive damages is not above Congressman Khanna, of all people.

      • kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world
        9·
        7 days ago

        That’s why every state should have robust Anti-Slapp laws. Furthermore attempting a slapp suit should come with punitive damages beyond just the attorney fees of the defendant of your frivolous suit. And there should be a three strikes system (a boy who cried wolf law) that if you are found to have attempted a slapp suit three times or more, A) you get a felony charge for denial of free speech that can come with jail time for up to 10 years in federal prison, B) the default presumption that any future speech based suits brought by you are likely slapp suits. In other words, the burden is on you to prove that you are likely to win your defamation case before a defense or discovery is even required, and all legal fees are to be taken on by yourself by default unless you win.

      • teyrnon@sh.itjust.works
        3·
        7 days ago

        Not with that kind of attitude. Also, elon isn’t really a trillionaire, the intinsic value of his stocks is 1/100 of that.

      • jouhija@sopuli.xyz
        31·
        7 days ago

        Well, you can if you straight up kill them. And that’s the only remaining course against all conservatives and right-wingers: they don’t deserve to live

  • wuffah@lemmy.worldEnglish
    45·
    8 days ago

    There’s no proof stronger that they absolutely despise poor people than gleefully ripping out a system that tries to protect most vulnerable people in the world.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
    English
    36·
    8 days ago

    “You know they’re celebrating that he created 4,400 millionaires, but they don’t talk about the 4.5 million children around the world who he possibly sentenced to death by dismantling USAID,” Khanna said on the “I’ve Had It” podcast over the weekend.

    The only questions journalists should ask billionaires are:

    1. How much is a human life worth to you?

    2. Then why do you have a billion dollars while so many preventable deaths happen?

    Having a billion dollars isn’t something anyone should strive for, and long before someone gets to that level, they need to be shamed out of it.

    Anytime they complain, remind them all they need to do is let go of some of their hoarded wealth that they couldn’t spend if they tried. Then remind them historically the rest of society eventually stops asking and starts seizing.

  • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
    13·
    8 days ago

    he’s just flexing to try to scare ro khanna off from running for a higher office. khanna is like the exact opposite of who a turdball like elon would want sitting behind the resolute desk.