The political confrontation between Elon Musk and the Democratic Party is rapidly intensifying.
As the U.S. midterm elections approach, Democrats have openly declared that once they reclaim control of Congress, they will launch a sweeping congressional investigation into Musk and deploy legal measures widely described as the "largest subpoena barrage in history."
Musk has fired back with a defiant posture, vowing to fight to the end, and is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help Republicans hold their congressional seats.
According to media reports, Democrats are preparing a large-scale congressional investigation into Musk's companies and his government activities, covering his federal government contracts, his actions during his leadership of the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), and allegations of interfering with Ukraine's military communications, among other claims.
New York University professor Scott Galloway predicted on his podcast: "After November 4, you will see the largest subpoena and congressional hearing demands in history hurled at him." Veteran tech journalist and Musk critic Kara Swisher immediately agreed: "Yes, one hundred percent. They've already said it — it's a done deal."
Facing mounting pressure, Musk responded on X with "Live by the sword, die by the sword," and warned that he would pursue the "real puppet masters" rather than just the "puppets" on stage.
At the same time, Musk is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into political efforts to preserve the Republican congressional majority, deeply binding this political battle to his business interests.
Democrats Target Three Main Lines of Investigation
According to media reports on Tuesday, senior Democrats are advancing their investigative strategy against Musk along three main tracks.
First, federal contracts and conflicts of interest. Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington State directly questioned: "When someone gets huge contracts from the government and then uses that contract to cut off battlefield communications in Ukraine that are vital to the United States, what does that mean?" This statement directly points to the controversy over the role of Musk's Starlink satellite service on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Second, the "destructive legacy" of DOGE. The Department of Government Efficiency led by Musk drastically cut federal spending, canceled government contracts, and reduced the federal workforce. Democratic Representative Greg Meeks of New York said:
"Congress must demand a full accounting of the damage caused by Musk and DOGE. We will not allow anyone to obstruct our oversight responsibilities."
Third, allegations of interfering with Ukraine's military communications. Democrats have made Musk's communications decisions in the Ukraine conflict a key target of review, arguing that there are potential national security risks and issues of improper benefits.
Musk Strikes Back Hard, Vows Countermeasures
Facing the looming threat of investigation, Musk has not chosen a low-key response but has publicly declared his intention to fight back.
In a post on X, he said he would dig deep into "the people really pulling the strings," rather than merely dealing with the "puppets" in front, using tough language that suggests he will extend his political offensive into deeper power networks within the Democratic Party.
Musk had previously made clear that if Democrats retake control of Congress in the November elections, he would take retaliatory action. This stance directly ties his personal political fate to the Republican Party's election results.
On the political defense front, Musk is converting financial power into electoral leverage. According to reports, he is investing hundreds of millions of dollars into political efforts aimed at maintaining the Republican congressional majority.
Analysts say the logic is clear: if Republicans hold Congress, the Democratic investigative agenda will not be able to move forward; if Democrats flip the chamber, Musk's federal contracts, DOGE legacy issues, and even his broader business empire will face systemic congressional scrutiny.
For investors, the policy environment for Musk's core assets such as Tesla Motors (TSLA) and SpaceX will depend to a considerable extent on the outcome of the November elections.
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