File image of Brazil’s First Lady Janja Lula da Silva and Space X CEO Elon Musk. Photograph:(Reuters)
Speaking at the G20 social event, Brazil’s First Lady Janja Lula da Silva expressed her dislike for billionaire Elon Musk freely.
Recently, Musk was appointed as the head of US President-elect Donald Trump’s new DOGE initiative along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Musk-owned platform X was suspended for a month in Brazil after it failed to name a legal representative and ignored orders given by the court to block accounts which were found using hate speech and spreading fake news.
Brazil’s First Lady criticises Musk
In his speech, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s wife Janja Lula da Silva spoke about the importance of regulating social media to curb misinformation.
Fuck you, Elon Musk,”
says Brazil’s first lady, Janja da Silva, during the G20 Social panel. pic.twitter.com/z99XqiHwnj
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 16, 2024
Tensions had escalated between Musk and the Brazilian government earlier this year when the country’s Supreme Court blocked access to X.
First Lady Janja had also earlier threatened to file a legal case against the social media giant after her account got hacked reportedly.
X had not adhered to the local regulations in August by failing to block accounts which were accused of spreading hate speech and “fake news”.
The company’s Brazil offices were also closed, citing “censorship” by a judge, even though its service was accessible to users across the country. In October, the ban was removed.
Elon Musk reacts
Musk, who has been involved in many public confrontations, responded to the remarks of Janja on his social media account by posting an emoji and suggesting that the camp of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will lose the upcoming elections.
Taking to X, Musk wrote, “They are going to lose the next election.”
As reported by the South China Morning Post, a spokesperson of Lula said, “We don’t have to offend or curse anyone.”