Elon Musk said he’ll be funding moderate primary challengers to incumbent Democrats in deep-blue seats around the country, as he continues to try to influence a wide swath of government.
“Forgot to mention that I’m also going to be funding moderate candidates in heavily Democrat districts, so that the country can get rid of those who don’t represent them, like this jackass,” the billionaire tech mogul said in a post on X in response to a video clip of Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.
Neal is an odd choice for Musk — a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump — to single out. He’s been repeatedly hit by progressive groups for what they view as overly cozy ties to industry — and bested a serious progressive challenger in 2020 for the seat he’s held since 1989.
More recently, progressive groups have demanded his ouster as top Democrat on the powerful tax writing panel.
Asked about Musk’s threat, Neal replied simply to POLITICO: “Everyone knows I’m always ready.” And the X account for the House Ways and Means Democrats posted a dismissive meme of a stick figure giving a thumbs up to mock Musk.
It’s not the first time the unlikely pair have jostled. Back in 2020, as Congress mulled additional pandemic aid opposed by Musk, the committee’s account derisively posted: “Thanks billionaire your opinion is noted.”
Neal had been speaking on the floor after a bipartisan and bicameral government funding agreement fell apart due, in large part, to objections from Musk and Trump.
“Can you imagine what the next two years are going to be like?” Neal asked. “If every time the Congress works its will and then there’s a tweet from an individual who has no official portfolio, who threatens members on the Republican side with a primary, they succumb?”