Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has issued a stark warning to the billionaire backers of Vice President Kamala Harris, threatening “an out-and-out brawl” if they attempt to remove Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan.
The controversy centers on efforts by some prominent tech industry figures to curb the Biden administration’s efforts to rein in Silicon Valley monopolies.
Lina Khan, who was appointed to lead the FTC at just 32 years old by President Joe Biden, has been at the forefront of an aggressive campaign to regulate the power of tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.
Her leadership has also targeted pharmaceutical companies, data brokers, and grocery chains, earning her both praise and criticism across industries.
Tensions escalated when billionaire Mark Cuban, a supporter of Harris, called for Khan’s removal, claiming her policies were doing more harm than good.
Cuban told news outlet Semafor:
“The bigger picture is she’s hurting more than she’s helping,” adding, “If it were me, I wouldn’t [keep her].”
Cuban’s comments echo those of Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor, who previously criticized Khan’s antitrust actions as detrimental to the country.
Hoffman stated that while antitrust regulation was important, Khan’s approach was akin to “waging war.”
In response, Ocasio-Cortez, known for her strong progressive stances, came to Khan’s defense.
“Anyone goes near Lina Khan and there will be an out-and-out brawl. And that is a promise,” she declared.
AOC stated that Khan’s work at the FTC proves the Biden administration’s commitment to fighting for working-class Americans, warning that it would be a “terrible leadership” move to remove her.
Senator Bernie Sanders also voiced his support for Khan, calling her “the best FTC chair in modern history.”
While Khan’s crackdown on Big Tech has sparked outrage among Silicon Valley power players, many small startups have applauded her efforts, believing that stronger regulations on tech monopolies could level the playing field and increase competition.
Amid growing political tensions over the role of Big Tech in the economy, the clash between Ocasio-Cortez, Harris’s wealthy backers, and Lina Khan’s leadership continues to reflect broader divisions within the Democratic Party over corporate power and regulation.
