Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democratic lawmaker from California, has expressed confidence that Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, will shift his political focus from Democrats to MAGA Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections following his recent disagreements with President Donald Trump. In an interview with Semafor, Khanna discussed his conversations with Musk’s senior confidants, suggesting that the billionaire’s recent criticisms of the Trump administration and his historical support for Democratic values could signal a potential change. Khanna believes that Musk’s advocacy against Trump’s policies, such as irrational tariffs and deficit-exploding spending, could help curb the former president’s influence. He emphasized that Musk’s public stance against Trump’s anti-science and anti-immigrant agenda could serve as a critical check on the Trump administration’s actions.
Khanna has been a notable exception among Democrats, advocating for bipartisanship with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives aimed at reducing federal spending, even before Trump’s potential return to the presidency. However, not all Democratic leaders share this sentiment. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has strongly opposed engaging with Musk, calling him a ‘right-wing extremist.’ Sanders argued that Musk’s political trajectory has shifted, and he no longer aligns with the progressive values he once supported. While Musk and Trump have traded harsh criticisms over Trump’s tax and spending package, Musk has recently shown signs of reconciliation, including sharing Trump’s social media posts about the Los Angeles riots and endorsing Vice President JD Vance’s remarks. This shifting dynamic highlights the complex political landscape surrounding Musk’s influence in American politics and the internal debates within the Democratic Party about how to navigate this relationship.
The Democratic Party’s response to Musk’s political alignment remains divided. While some see an opportunity to leverage Musk’s celebrity and financial clout for progressive causes, others fear that associating with Musk could alienate their base and complicate their efforts to counter Trump’s political influence. As the 2026 midterms approach, the party faces the challenge of balancing strategic alliances with ideological purity. This issue underscores the broader tensions within the Democratic Party, where the prospect of engaging with a controversial figure like Musk could have significant implications for their electoral strategy and internal cohesion. The situation reflects the growing influence of high-profile individuals in U.S. politics and the challenges of integrating such figures into traditional political frameworks.