Ro Khanna delivered an expansive progressive vision during a commencement address at Suffolk University, calling for a “Second New Deal” centered on taxing billionaires, regulating artificial intelligence, expanding social welfare programs, and restructuring American political institutions.
In a speech that quickly spread online after Khanna posted excerpts on social media, the California Democrat told graduates that younger Americans face a historic responsibility to rebuild the country. During what he described as a new era of inequality and concentrated wealth.
“Few generations are asked to die for our country,” Khanna said. “Our task is different — whether we are willing to live for our country.” Khanna compared current economic conditions to the Gilded Age and the years preceding the Great Depression, arguing that the United States once again faces a political system “stacked against ordinary people.”
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“The Progressive Era and the New Deal took on entrenched power to make our nation more just,” he said. “That is the legacy you inherit.” The congressman sharply criticized extreme wealth concentration, saying 19 billionaires now control $3.4 trillion, roughly 12% of the U.S. economy.
“They could pay a five percent annual tax on their wealth,” Khanna said, arguing the revenue could fund Medicare for All, free public college, childcare subsidies, student debt relief, affordable housing guarantees, and worker ownership initiatives.
Khanna also called for major political reforms, including overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, imposing term limits on justices, and expanding the court from nine to thirteen members.
The speech additionally focused heavily on foreign policy and defense spending.
“We must end the wars in the Middle East beginning with this conflict in Iran,” Khanna told graduates, drawing applause from the audience. He argued that the United States should reduce military expenditures and redirect investments toward domestic manufacturing, renewable energy, biotechnology, AI infrastructure, and workforce development.
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Khanna proposed creating a federally backed industrial investment bank, expanding trade schools and technology institutes, and launching a modern federal jobs program modeled after Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the economy, Khanna said the technology must benefit workers rather than deepen wealth inequality. “That means taxing agent AI more than we tax human workers,” he said.
Khanna described the broader platform as “New Economic Patriotism,” warning that younger generations would need to lead structural reforms because “a failed generation of political leadership” had allowed institutions to become captured by elite interests.
The speech reflected the growing influence of economic populism inside parts of the Democratic Party as progressive lawmakers increasingly focus on wealth inequality, AI disruption, housing affordability, and public distrust of political institutions ahead of the 2026 elections.