Elon Musk Vows Retaliation Against Democrats Probing Him

Elon Musk warned Wednesday that he would fight back against Democrats who are reportedly planning to target him with investigations if they gain control of the House in next month’s midterms.

"Live by the sword, die by the sword," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. He added, "Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets..."

Musk's statement was in response to a Politico report detailing Democrats' intentions to launch corruption probes aimed at the Trump administration, with the world’s richest man as a potential initial target. The report was shared on social media with the caption, "Dem gavels are coming for Elon Musk."

As Democrats appear to be gaining ground in some closely watched midterm races, lawmakers are reportedly preparing a series of investigations. Musk, a significant donor to Republican candidates, has already contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the GOP this year, according to Politico.

Potential lines of inquiry could include Musk's oversight of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is noted for slashing federal jobs. His companies' extensive federal contracts, including those held by SpaceX for its rocket and satellite business Starlink, could also face scrutiny.

Musk’s reported role in issues concerning Ukrainian internet access is also likely to be a point of investigation. While U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal that Musk unilaterally restricted satellite internet speeds in Ukraine without White House consultation, another source claimed he had consulted with senior administration officials and former President Trump beforehand.

"What happens when one guy gets a giant contract from the government and then uses it to do something that shuts down communication in a war that has been extremely important to the United States to support Ukraine?" Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, asked Politico. "There’s a lot of different parts of the corruption around Musk."

Several other Democrats have indicated plans to investigate Musk. Sara Guerrero, a spokesperson for Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, stated that there are "a lot of questions" regarding Musk's involvement with DOGE and that "it is something we plan to investigate."

Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), another member of the Oversight Committee, asserted that Musk needs to be investigated as part of broader corruption probes into the Trump administration, stating, "it takes two to tango."

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, criticized "the damage that DOGE inflicted on our science agencies." She added, "Elon Musk and his DOGE cronies stirred up chaos, ruined careers, and played a large role in illegal grant cancellations and firings of civil servants."

Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for "a full accounting of the damage Mr. Musk and DOGE caused," specifically mentioning the "cruel dismantling of USAID."

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), also on the Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested Musk should appear before the committee, stating, "Bring it all on."

Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee have reportedly already begun investigating Musk's tenure at DOGE.