Following the tragic death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., expressed his condolences while acknowledging the intense debate that his killing sparked regarding inequalities in the U.S. health care system. While Khanna made it clear that violence could not be justified, he remarked that the widespread reaction to Thompson’s death came as no surprise.
“There is no justification for violence,” Khanna said during an interview on ABC’s “This Week” with anchor Martha Raddatz. “But the outpouring afterwards has not surprised me.” His comments followed the killing of Thompson, which led to a significant manhunt for the suspected perpetrator and a national conversation about the high costs associated with health care in the United States. The incident also ignited online discussions about the role of the insurance industry in these rising costs.
Khanna aligned himself with independent Senator Bernie Sanders’ view on the issue, which critiques the massive spending on healthcare administration. Sanders argued that the U.S. wastes billions of dollars annually on administrative expenses in health care, money that enriches insurance CEOs and wealthy stockholders while millions of Americans remain underinsured or lack coverage altogether. “We waste hundreds of billions a year on health care administrative expenses that make insurance CEOs and wealthy stockholders incredibly rich while 85 million Americans go uninsured or underinsured. Health care is a human right. We need Medicare for All,” Sanders wrote. Khanna echoed these sentiments, saying, “After years, Sanders is winning this debate.”
While Khanna expressed agreement with Sanders’ stance on health care, he also discussed the broader issues surrounding federal spending, notably in defense. He mentioned his support for President-elect Donald Trump’s initiative to establish a “Department of Government Efficiency” aimed at reducing wasteful federal spending. The president-elect appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramawamy to lead the new department, and they recently visited Capitol Hill to discuss their plans. Khanna shared his views on the need to focus on cutting unnecessary expenses, particularly in health care and defense.
“They should look at the extraordinary waste,” Khanna told Raddatz, stressing the importance of examining both Medicare and private health costs. He also suggested that addressing inefficiencies in defense spending could garner significant bipartisan support. “I think when it comes to defense, getting better defense for value and cutting costs, there can be huge bipartisan cooperation,” he stated.
Despite his support for efforts to cut wasteful spending, Khanna emphasized that certain critical programs should remain untouched. He firmly stated that cuts to Social Security, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and Medicare should not be part of any cost-cutting initiatives. His comments reflect the ongoing debate in Congress about the need to address the U.S. debt, which has surpassed $36 trillion.
Khanna also revealed that he has been in communication with Musk regarding his plans to reduce federal spending. He praised Musk’s role in advancing space exploration with the Obama administration, noting that his efforts in the private sector had made a significant impact.
In addition to his thoughts on health care and federal spending, Khanna was asked to weigh in on the ongoing discussions regarding the potential ban of TikTok in the U.S. Following a recent Federal Appeals Court ruling, which rejected TikTok’s bid to overturn a law requiring the app to find a new owner or face a ban, the future of the platform in the U.S. remains uncertain. Khanna had previously expressed his opposition to a bill that would force TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company or face a ban. He believed that such a move would likely face constitutional challenges.
“I don’t think it’s going to pass First Amendment scrutiny because I think there are less restrictive alternatives,” Khanna said in an earlier interview on “This Week.” He reiterated his stance on Sunday, expressing confidence that TikTok would not face a ban. “Let’s see where it goes with the Supreme Court,” he said, noting how many politicians themselves use the platform.
Khanna’s comments reflect his broader views on balancing security concerns with the protection of individual rights, a theme that resonates across many of his policy positions. His responses on both the health care system and the federal spending debate demonstrate his ongoing commitment to reform and efficiency in government.
As the manhunt for Thompson’s killer continues, Khanna’s remarks on health care offer a glimpse into the ongoing national conversation about the role of private insurers, government programs, and corporate spending in shaping the future of U.S. health care. Meanwhile, his thoughts on TikTok underscore his approach to navigating the intersection of technology, national security, and free speech.
Khanna’s perspectives reflect both his alignment with progressive views on health care and his pragmatic approach to addressing broader issues facing the country. The debate sparked by the killing of Thompson may continue to influence both political discourse and policy decisions in the months ahead, particularly as lawmakers confront the challenges posed by rising health care costs, federal debt, and global technology issues.
