Brazil’s First Lady Janja Lula da Silva stirred controversy by using an expletive directed at Elon Musk during a disinformation panel ahead of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. While discussing the need for stricter social media regulations, a sudden noise caught her attention, prompting her to joke, “I think it’s Elon Musk.” She then added, “I’m not afraid of you,” before swearing at the entrepreneur who owns Tesla and the social media platform X.
Musk, recently appointed as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency in President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming administration, has had a complex relationship with Brazil’s government under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His platform, X, faced a temporary ban in the country earlier this year for failing to comply with legal requirements, including naming a representative and suspending accounts accused of spreading false information. The ban was lifted after the company paid a $5.1 million fine.
Musk responded to the incident by sharing a video clip of the First Lady’s remarks with the caption “lol” and later posting two laughing emojis, adding, “They are going to lose the next election,” a comment seemingly aimed at Lula’s Workers’ Party.
Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, a known ally of Musk, shared the video and Musk’s reaction, noting, “We now have another diplomatic problem.” Bolsonaro, who was barred from running for office for eight years after being found guilty of undermining the electoral system post-2022 elections, has stated his intention to contest the 2026 presidential race.
As global leaders prepare for the upcoming G20 summit starting Monday, this incident has added another layer of diplomatic tension.
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