CHICAGO — Billionaire Elon Musk set off a social media firestorm after posting a 3 a.m. tweet targeting Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive congressional candidate running in Illinois’ 9th District. The comment came shortly after Abughazaleh’s viral CNN appearance, where she called for universal health care—including for undocumented immigrants.
The incident drew national attention, spotlighting the stark divide over health care access in America.
The Viral Moment That Triggered Musk
In a recent segment on CNN, Abughazaleh sparred with Republican strategist Scott Jennings, who questioned whether her support for health care extended to undocumented immigrants. She replied:
“Every single person in the world deserves health care.… How is this controversial?”
The clip quickly spread across social media, earning praise from progressives—and criticism from the right. Musk chimed in shortly after with a tweet accusing her of promoting “suicidal empathy,” a post that generated over 10 million views.
Her Response: “I Won’t Apologize for Empathy”
Abughazaleh addressed the situation in an essay for The New Republic, stating she won’t back down from the idea that health care is a basic human right. She also highlighted the contradiction in Musk’s stance, noting his past claims of supporting “freedom” and innovation while opposing equitable care.
“If you show up at my campaign office starving or bleeding, I’m not asking for your papers before I help you,” she wrote.
Health Care at the Heart of Her Campaign
Abughazaleh’s platform calls for a single-payer health care system, rooted in principles outlined by FDR’s Second Bill of Rights, which envisioned health care as a fundamental right.
She argues the U.S. is falling behind other nations where universal care is the norm, and criticizes recent GOP proposals that would slash funding for Medicare and SNAP while expanding military budgets.
Do you support universal health care as a right for all people—or should it be restricted by immigration status or income?
Join the conversation today on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
