Elon Musk’s Defamation Suit Against CNN: A Slam Dunk Case?

Elon Musk has had enough. The billionaire entrepreneur is reportedly gearing up to sue CNN after panelist Jamal Bowman labeled him a “thief” and a “Nazi” during a heated broadcast. Bowman, a former New York congressman who lost his primary amid backlash for his far-left views, didn’t hold back, accusing Musk of incompetence and untrustworthiness. For Musk, the wealthiest man alive, this could be a textbook defamation case—and he’s got little to lose by pursuing it.

Joe Belli, a no-nonsense New Yorker and friend of the show’s host, called it a “slam dunk” if Musk follows through. Legal experts agree there’s potential. Under the Supreme Court’s New York Times v. Sullivan ruling, public figures like Musk must prove “actual malice”—that Bowman knowingly lied or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. While that’s a high bar, Musk’s resources could push this to a jury, where evidence of Bowman’s intent would be key. “If you’re Elon Musk, why not?” Belli argued. “Send a message to these thugs.”

Bowman’s radical stances—cheering Hamas’ October 7th attacks, pushing to defund police and ICE—made him a lightning rod before his electoral defeat. Calling Musk a Nazi, a term with heavy historical weight, might just meet the malice threshold.

“Bullies like him need to be punched back,” Belli added, suggesting Musk’s lawsuit could be a cultural counterstrike.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s weekend appearance at the NCAA Wrestling Championships drew massive cheers, underscoring a shift in public sentiment. From Daytona 500 to college football, Trump’s sporting event cameos consistently earn applause, defying media narratives of his unpopularity. With the Democrats’ approval ratings tanking at 27-29%, Trump’s MAGA momentum mirrors Obama’s 2008 cultural wave. Musk’s legal battle and Trump’s crowd appeal signal a growing defiance against establishment critics—a trend neither CNN nor Bowman may withstand.