Elon Musk answered reports that Democrats plan to investigate him, DOGE and his companies if they win Congress with a warning of his own: "Live by the sword, die by the sword."
Elon Musk warned congressional Democrats on Wednesday that if they come after him with investigations, he will come after the people behind them. Posting on X above a link to Politico's report "Capitol agenda: Dem gavels are coming for Elon Musk," Musk wrote: "Live by the sword, die by the sword."
"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 …" he continued. Musk did not name the people he meant, or say what action he intends to take.
"Live by the sword, die by the sword. 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 …"
The Politico report, published Tuesday, described House Democrats' plans — if they win the House in November's midterm elections — to investigate Musk's role running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), his companies' federal contracts and potential conflicts of interest, and his possible role in restricting the satellite communications Ukraine's military relies on. Rep. Greg Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has named Musk's part in what he called "the cruel dismantling of USAID" as a prime target for his panel next year.
The pressure is not only about next year. On Tuesday, Sen. Adam Schiff demanded a full Senate investigation into the reported Starlink slowdown in Ukraine. "Either the President was lying or Musk was lying, but the decision to slow down satellite speed and access has life or death consequences for Ukraine," Schiff wrote. "This deserves a full investigation by the Senate. Elon Musk should be compelled to testify before Congress and under oath." On Wednesday, Sen. Chris Coons added his own demand: "Whether Elon Musk disrupted Starlink on his own or after talking with Trump, Ukrainian civilians, including children, are paying the price. I'm demanding answers."
The stakes run in both directions. Musk is the Republican Party's biggest financial backer in this election cycle — roughly $366 million spent so far, $276 million of it since July to help Republicans retain control of Congress, according to Reuters — and he is investing heavily to prevent the Democratic takeover that would hand his critics the gavels, the hearing rooms and the subpoena power. The fight has already started in miniature: in September, House Homeland Security Democrats demanded that Musk testify under oath, citing government watchdog findings they said exposed sharply overstated claims about DOGE's savings at the Department of Homeland Security.
The gavels will not be decided until November. But Musk has now told the people reaching for them — in public, and in advance — exactly what he intends to do if they pick the fight.