Republican Mowers accuses Democrats of "xenophobia" against Musk

On Thursday, Matt Mowers, a former official in the Trump administration, faced criticism from Democratic strategist Maria Cardona during a CNN discussion. Mowers accused Democrats, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, of showing "xenophobia" toward Elon Musk. This came after Walz referred to Musk as a "nepo baby" from South Africa. Mowers defended Musk, stating that he is an American citizen working for the elected president. He claimed that Democrats are trying to undermine Musk's contributions while he works to reform the federal government. Mowers argued that this effort is aimed at returning power to the people. Cardona responded strongly to Mowers' claims. She pointed out what she sees as hypocrisy in his accusations of xenophobia. She argued that the Trump administration's actions, such as eliminating diversity and inclusion initiatives, have harmed communities of color. Cardona also emphasized that Mowers should not criticize a government trying to serve the public when his side supports actions that damage civil society. Overall, the exchange highlighted sharp divisions in views over Musk's impact and the role of government.