Rep. John Larson’s Red-Faced Screaming Fit Over Musk Goes Viral [WATCH]

Rep. John Larson (D-CT) had an explosive outburst during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday, angrily demanding answers over the absence of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The Connecticut Democrat, 76, raised his voice in a fiery display, criticizing both Musk and his Republican colleagues in the committee.

“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 shouted, his voice echoing through the hearing room.

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The longtime congressman continued his tirade, growing visibly red-faced as he waved his hands in frustration.

“I’m sure he’s a genius, and a very credible person because of the wealth he’s accumulated,” Larson said.

“But that does not put him above the law or the responsibility to come before this committee in this Congress!”

Larson’s anger escalated as he accused Musk of attempting to privatize Social Security.

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“If he’s so great, if these plans and all the fraud that he’s found are so imminent, why isn’t he here explaining it?” Larson yelled.

“You know why. Because he’s out to privatize Social Security.”

The congressman’s impassioned speech quickly made waves online, with clips of the hearing circulating widely.

Some critics questioned whether Larson had been under the influence, while others mocked the display as political theater.

The same day, House Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee voted to block a resolution introduced by Larson that sought to force President Donald Trump to release information regarding activities at the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The resolution aimed to investigate allegations that SSA field offices were set to be closed and staff reduced.

The efforts to restructure SSA operations have been framed as an attempt to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse, ensuring that Social Security benefits are preserved for eligible recipients.

Following the committee’s vote, Larson doubled down on his concerns.

“He looks at that in terms of numbers and not the people that it impacts,” he 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.”

Amid the debate over SSA’s restructuring, the agency reversed course on a controversial plan to eliminate phone services for Americans filing retirement and disability claims.

The proposed cuts, initially reported by The Washington Post, were linked to a broader fraud prevention effort spearheaded by Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service team.

SSA officials later confirmed that while they will move forward with restricting direct deposit changes by phone to prevent identity fraud, they will not eliminate phone-based claims processing.

The cost-cutting measures were part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) broader efforts under President Trump’s administration to streamline federal agencies and reduce spending.

This latest outburst from Larson follows a strange moment in February when he appeared to suffer a brief medical episode while speaking on the House floor.

During a speech criticizing President Trump and Musk’s influence over the federal government, Larson suddenly froze mid-sentence.

Eyewitnesses described Larson as lowering his chin, withdrawing his arms, and pausing for several seconds before resuming his remarks in a noticeably slower and deeper voice.

After completing his sentence, he paused again before continuing in a halting manner, ultimately running out of time before finishing his speech.

#BREAKING: Watch as 76-year-old Democratic congressman John Larson suffers a medical episode while speaking on the House floor, freezing for nearly a minute. pic.twitter.com/e7BFBvra7y

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 11, 2025

The incident raised concerns among observers, though no official statement was released regarding Larson’s health.

As Wednesday’s hearing demonstrated, tensions remain high in Congress over Social Security policy and Musk’s growing influence in government affairs.

With Republicans maintaining control of key committees, Democratic lawmakers like Larson continue to push back against efforts they view as an attack on federal programs.

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