Musk 'trying to be the real-life Tony Stark': Bowman

Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) criticized Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) moves to overhaul the government, claiming the American people can't trust the tech billionaire.

"Musk is trying to be the real-life Tony Stark, and we can see him coming a mile away. We don't trust Elon Musk," he said Thursday evening in an appearance on CNN's "NewsNight with Abby Phillip."

"That‘s why the American people are up in arms in protest and in town halls in Republican districts across the country," he continued. "They are pissed off based on what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing, firing tens of thousands of workers only for the courts to reverse the firing," the former lawmaker added.

Bowman, who lost his seat during the Democratic primary last June, said Musk's actions were a conflict of interest, but those in charge "don't care."

"Elon is trying to be the first trillionaire and he wants to be an oligarch that not just controls American governments, he wants to control world governments," the progressive Democrat told CNN.

When the host asked Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), also a panelist on the show, about a New York Times report that the Tesla CEO would be briefed about war plans related to China during his meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, he appeared to avoid the question.

Bowman noted Lawler did not answer the "yes or no" question.

"Should this be concerning? Yes, absolutely," the former lawmaker said, while claiming Musk is a donor to Lawler's reelection campaign.

Asked if that were true, Lawler said "not directly."

President Trump, in subsequent posts on Truth Social late Thursday and early Friday, denied the reports that the Pentagon meeting would include talks on U.S.-China relations.

“The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential ‘war with China.’ How ridiculous?” Trump wrote Thursday. “China will not even be mentioned or discussed."

He added Friday that "their FAKE concept for this story is that because Elon does some business in China, that he is very conflicted and would immediately go to top Chinese officials and “spill the beans ... The Fake News is the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE … And Elon is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!!"

Hegseth and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell have also denied the Times's reporting, which cited administration officials. The Defense chief added that Friday's meeting would be an "informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production."

On Friday, Hegseth pressed the outlet to "immediately" retract its story.

“We stand behind our reporting,” a New York Times spokesperson told The Hill in a statement.

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