A MAGA voter became enraged after being pressed on Elon Musk’s role in U.S. politics.
The Republican walked out of the CNN interview when a reporter brought up the billionaire’s business interests and drug use, and asked whether the man trusted Musk with federal work.
Musk has become the face of the DOGE cuts to the federal government, but many Donald Trump voters are standing by the SpaceX founder, despite his apparent conflicts of interest.
In one deep-red county in Georgia, CNN’s Elle Reeve sparked anger from one such voter, David Herrin, after talking about Musk’s marijuana use.
“Do you trust Elon Musk? He’s a government contractor, he’s got business interests, whether in defense, internet, that kind of thing,” Reeve asked. “He’s also admitted to drug use, smoked pot on Joe Rogan’s show. Do you trust him as like a stable, rational, and reasonable person to be doing this job?”
Herrin immediately responded “Yes.” He defended Musk’s marijuana stunt, saying “potheads” all are over the country.
The conversation then took a turn. Yelling at Reeve across the table, he said: “You’re part of the Democrat Party in my book.” In a voiceover, she said the “conversation devolved quickly” and that she didn’t anticipate Herrin’s emotional connection to Musk.
“This is over with,” Herrin said, jumping up from his seat. Reeve then offered to show him a clip of Musk smoking weed.
“I don’t care! I’m saying it don’t matter,” Herrin responded. “She’s coming in here with ignorant arguments. She ain’t talking facts. I can prove you’re a Democrat by the level of ignorance that you portray.”
He ripped his mic off and began walking away from the table, before asking Musk and Trump to “drain the swamp.”
Musk has downplayed any conflicts of interest. The Washington Post reported that at least $38 billion in government money has gone to Musk over the years via contracts, loans, tax credits, and more. Musk has claimed, however, that he would “recuse” himself if there was a conflict of interest.
“If there’s a conflict, he won’t be involved,” Trump said on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show in late February. “I mean, I wouldn’t want that, and he won’t want it.”
