Democrat Rep. John Larson (D-CT) had a fiery meltdown during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday, erupting in a red-faced rant against Elon Musk and his Republican colleagues. In a dramatic display, Larson shouted at the top of his lungs, demanding answers about Musk’s absence from the hearing.
“Where’s the independence of the committee? Where’s the legislature? We’re an equal branch of government, and you start off with a blather? And yet, look at the empty seats here,” Larson, 76, yelled.
“I’m sure he’s a genius, and a very credible person because of the wealth he’s accumulated,” Larson continued, his face visibly flushed as he gestured wildly. “But that does not put him above the law or the responsibility to come before this committee in this Congress!”
“If he’s so great, if these plans and all the fraud that he’s found are so imminent, why isn’t here explaining it!” Larson screamed, his voice cracking with intensity. “You know why. Because he’s out to privatize Social Security.”
Watch:
Elon Musk called Social Security a Ponzi scheme and Donald Trump called it a scam. Make no mistake – they want to slash & privatize Americans’ benefits.
My resolution compels them to provide answers, but Republicans are trying to stop it from even coming to a vote in the House. pic.twitter.com/SdB833tedB
— Rep. John Larson (@RepJohnLarson) March 12, 2025
The heated outburst quickly went viral, with some questioning whether Larson was “drunk” during the hearing. Commentators mocked the performance, with some noting that Larson’s rant seemed more like a desperate attempt to score political points than a genuine concern over legislative independence.
On Wednesday, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee voted to block a resolution introduced by Ranking Member Larson that sought to compel President Trump to disclose information regarding activities at the Social Security Administration (SSA). The blocked resolution aimed to investigate alleged plans to close SSA field offices and reduce staff.
The efforts are designed to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, ensuring that resources are directed to beneficiaries who need them most.
“He looks at that in terms of numbers and not the people that it impacts,” Larson said in an interview after the hearing. “It’s the No. 1 anti-poverty program for the elderly, and it’s the No. 1 anti-poverty program for children.”
The Social Security Administration reversed its plan Wednesday to cut phone services for millions of Americans filing retirement and disability claims after a report by The Washington Post. The agency had been considering eliminating phone-based claims processing as part of a fraud crackdown led by Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service team, but officials confirmed they would only restrict direct deposit changes by phone to prevent identity fraud.
The proposal was part of cost-cutting measures under President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to reduce staff and spending across federal agencies.
In February, Rep. Larson experienced a brief but noticeable medical episode while speaking on the House floor. While addressing concerns about President Trump and Musk’s growing influence over the federal government, Larson suddenly froze mid-sentence.
He then withdrew his arms, lowered his chin, and paused for several seconds before resuming his speech with a noticeably slower and deeper voice.
76-year-old Democrat Rep. John Larson freezes mid-speech on the House floor.
WE NEED TERM LIMITS! pic.twitter.com/dSrqqAoAZH
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 11, 2025
After completing his sentence, he paused again before continuing in a choppy manner, ultimately running out of his allotted speaking time.
