Ro Khanna Targets ‘Oligarchs’ After New York Primary Sweep, Days After Elon Musk Called Him ‘Ro The Robber’

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) warned ultra-wealthy billionaires to prepare for a fight after progressive, socialist-backed candidates scored major victories in New York’s Democratic primaries, extending his populist offensive days after a bitter public feud with Elon Musk.

Khanna Warns Oligarchs After Progressive Wins

“Our message to the oligarchs: bring it on,” Khanna wrote on X. “After last nights decisive wins, have a new, strong, bold Democratic party.”

Don’t Miss:

The post included a video clip in which Khanna argued that Democrats should embrace a sharper economic and foreign policy message.

“The reality is that our platform of a new deal is resonating; it’s a platform that says no to foreign wars, no to genocide, but it’s also a platform that says yes. Yes to Medicare for all, yes to childcare for all, yes to unions for all, and yes to a tax on billionaires and trillionaires,” Khanna said.

Mamdani Allies Score Major Primary Upsets

Khanna was referring to a sweep by candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose allies defeated establishment-backed Democrats in several high-profile House primaries.

Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, both aligned with the left, were among the winners. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander also won a closely watched race backed by Mamdani.

The victories showed growing strength for Democrats who want the party to focus more aggressively on economic inequality, unions, health care, child care and U.S. policy toward Israel. They also deepened internal party tensions, with centrists warning that a sharp leftward turn could make it harder to win swing voters in November.

Khanna’s message also tracks with his push for the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, a proposal with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would impose a 5% annual wealth tax on Americans with more than $1 billion in assets.

Musk Feud Adds To Populist Fight

The post came after Khanna clashed with Musk over cuts made through the Department of Government Efficiency. Khanna accused Musk’s DOGE effort of helping dismantle USAID and cited a Lancet-linked estimate that aid cuts could contribute to 4.5 million child deaths globally.

Musk rejected the charge, threatened to sue Khanna, called him a liar and “Ro the Robber,” and amplified calls for him to face prison. Khanna responded by challenging Musk to a televised debate over DOGE cuts and demanding that Congress subpoena him for testimony.

New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker says he is ok with socialism in the Democrat party:

“One of things that makes the Democratic party great is it’s a big tent party, we need to stay that way.” pic.twitter.com/WdX47jkyhU

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 24, 2026

Khanna is not alone in defending the party’s insurgent wing. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said, “One of the things that makes the Democratic party great is it’s a big tent party, we need to stay that way.” He added, “The focus has got to be the November election.”

Photo Courtesy: Phil Pasquini on Shutterstock.com

Read Next: Think you’re saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

BluSky AI

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible.

ARK7

Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities. By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Immersed

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

Miso Robotics

Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations. As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service.

Vinovest

Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

EquityMultiple

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

American Hartford Gold

American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs. The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.

Tags: