CNN’s Scott Jennings criticized Democrats on Sunday for their opposition to Elon Musk, calling it “hypocritical” in light of the influence wielded by left-wing billionaire George Soros.
Jan. 2, 2024
Jennings made his remarks during an appearance on State of the Union with CNN host Dana Bash.
The discussion came as Democrats escalated their criticisms of Musk following his opposition to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson’s original 1,574-page continuing resolution (CR).
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The resolution, which included provisions that could cost hundreds of billions of dollars, faced backlash from Musk, who urged voters to oppose lawmakers supporting the measure.
Bash asked Jennings whether Musk’s growing influence might “wear thin” on President-elect Donald Trump.
“I don’t think so. I mean look, they appear to be getting along well,” Jennings responded.
“Musk was very instrumental in his victory, and I hear Democrats criticizing the idea that we have unelected people with too much influence over the government. I invite them to pick up the Wall Street Journal from this week and find out that unelected people have been running the government for the last four years.”
Jennings did not hold back on what he viewed as Democratic hypocrisy. “I hear Democrats criticizing the influence of billionaires on our politics when you’ve got this Soros punk running around collecting Democrat politicians like my kids collect Pokémon cards,” he said.
“So I think all the criticism of Musk coming from the left is totally hypocritical, totally over-the-top, and he is doing something interesting, bringing some transparency to the federal government. It’s not a terrible thing.”
Soros, through Soros Fund Management, has long been a major donor to Democratic politicians, organizations, and progressive causes.
Over 20 district attorneys in cities such as New York and Los Angeles have reportedly received campaign funding from Soros-backed groups.
Former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, a notable recipient of Soros funding, was voted out in November after pursuing far-left policies that critics say weakened law enforcement and hurt small businesses.
In 2023, Soros Fund Management donated $173,710 to Democratic congressional candidates, $183,010 to federal candidates overall, and $850,000 to the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), according to OpenSecrets. TOP advocates for ending “mass incarceration,” reforming immigration policies, and creating a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Beyond politics, Soros has extended his influence into media, with his investment firm acquiring over $400 million of debt from Audacy, the second-largest radio network in the U.S., as part of a restructuring agreement.
Musk has become a polarizing figure in American politics since acquiring X, formerly known as Twitter, and pledging to restore free speech to the platform.
He has aligned himself with conservative politicians, endorsed Trump, and played a visible role in Republican efforts to reshape government.
On November 12, Trump announced Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as nominees for a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with cutting regulations and streamlining federal agencies.
Musk’s opposition to Speaker Johnson’s CR bill led to widespread criticism from Democrats, including Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who referred to Musk as “President Musk” to condemn his influence.
🚨 JUST NOW: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) mocks Republicans for getting “scared – because President Musk said ‘don’t do it [pass the bill]!’”
“Imagine. What does HE know about what people go through when the government shuts down? Are his employees furloughed? H*ll no! Is… pic.twitter.com/JNKCZ4kWXU
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 19, 2024
Despite pushback, the CR was ultimately revised down to just over 110 pages, garnering enough support to advance to the Senate by Friday evening.
As Musk’s role in conservative politics grows, so does scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers, highlighting the ongoing battle over influence in Washington.
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