'Optimus to colonise Red planet': Elon Musk to launch SpaceX's Mars mission by next year

Uncrewed Mars Mission

Starship’s Role in Mars Exploration

Tesla’s Optimus Robots

Human Mars Mission

Reaching and Surviving on Mars

Deep-Space Travel

Future Space Missions

Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX aims to send its Starship rocket to Mars as early as next year. This uncrewed mission will test critical systems, including landing technology and cargo transport, laying the groundwork for future human missions.

There has been intense debate in India on Grok 3, the sharp-tongued AI chatbot of Elon Musk's social media platform X, which has been churning out answers to controversial and often politically sensitive questions. Depending on their political leanings, both the right-wing and left-wing observers and politicians have been interpreting Grok 3's responses to suit their narratives.&nbsp;
Indian government sources told media that they have noted the abusive language used by Grok in some of the answers, which social media users shared widely in the last few days. Meanwhile, in a parallel yet separate development, X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government over its content blocking and takedowns on the social media platform.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-backs-musks-claim-of-white-genocide-in-south-africa-grok-fact-check-calls-them-out-8883153">Trump backs Musk's claim of &lsquo;white genocide&rsquo; in South Africa, Grok fact-check calls them out</a>
So are Elon Musk's X and the Indian government on a collision course? Can India potentially ban Grok, which is currently integrated into the user interface of X?
Let us look at the key issues here.
<h2>First up, why is X suing the Indian government?</h2>
Please note that the current controversy over Grok is not directly mentioned in the court case involving X and the Indian government. The key contention in the lawsuit filed in March by X is what it claimed to be the unlawful expansion of the Indian government's censorship powers. The social media platform is alleging that the legal provisions used by the government to block its content are bypassing safeguards established under Indian law. More specifically, the lawsuit filed in the Karnataka High Court on March 5 alleged that the Indian Ministry of Information Technology is expanding its censorship authority in asking for takedowns for certain X posts. The X lawsuit questioned the use of Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act for content takedown orders, saying it bypasses the safeguards of Section 69A of the same act, which mandates judicial scrutiny and oversight for such actions.&nbsp;
The case is ongoing and a hearing is scheduled on March 27.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/bold-blunt-and-banned-groks-indian-journey-hangs-in-balance-8877176">Bold, Blunt, and Banned? Grok&rsquo;s Indian Journey Hangs in Balance</a>
The issue is in the larger context of how the Indian government monitors online content. X contends that the new methods used by the government infringes upon constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and expression enshrined under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.
<h2>So what is Grok 3?</h2>
Grok is a chatbot and AI assistant developed by xAI, the artificial intelligence venture of Elon Musk's X.&nbsp;While it was already available on X, the bot exploded in popularity when Grok came out with its third version, Grok 3.&nbsp;
Its answers were unfiltered, and some were controversial.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/having-fun-asking-questions-to-grok-you-may-face-criminal-charges-now-8874974">Having fun asking questions to Grok? You may face criminal charges now</a>
The bot responded with Hindi slang and abusive language while answering some questions related to Indian politicians and even Elon Musk himself. But in many cases, the bad language was in response to questions that themselves contained abuses. In short, it was a case of tit for tat.
Some of the Grok responses contained Hindi slang words commonly used as misogynistic insults, which raised eyebrows both regarding obscenity laws and cultural context of India.
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2003_ARJUN_HINDI_12PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2003_ARJUN_HINDI_12PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=104&amp;tags=Elon Musk, AI, Grok, World News, WION" title="Musk's AI bot Grok under scrutiny: IT Mnistry looking into what led to the use of abusive language" id="PL_iframe_block-m8mwzsmu-x3n1turl-f77amdro"></iframe>
Some of these interactions were posted on X (these become public only when the users share it on X, otherwise it's essentially a private interaction) and went viral.
Questions included those about Indian politicians, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
<h2>What is the Indian government's stance on Grok? Will Grok be banned in India?</h2>
The information technology ministry is looking into Grok's use of abusive language, and hasn't made any comment on the political nature of its answers, or their accuracy. The Indian government is reportedly discussing with the relevant people of X on the issue.
At the time of writing this, a ban on Grok seems highly unlikely.
The IT ministry said it is engaging with X, and contrary to initial reports, made it clear that there was no formal notice or ban issued against X.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-talks-with-x-grok-will-india-take-action-after-musks-x-sues-modi-govt-over-alleged-censorship-8874168">'In talks with X, Grok': Will India take action after Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship?</a>
But the political ramifications of some of the answers could make the government think more deeply about a ban or restrictions on Grok in future.&nbsp;
There is also a view that some of the Grok answers could endanger India's national security, or law and order.
Some media reports said that those posing such inflammatory questions to Grok could face charges, along with X, but no such case has come up so far.
<h2>Is Grok banned or facing pressure in other countries?</h2>
At the time of writing this, Grok is facing scrutiny only in India, partly as a consequence of its sudden popularity. It has not been censored or criticised in other countries.
Under its new laws on artificial intelligence, the European Union has banned 'unacceptably risky' AI systems, though Grok itself is not named. &nbsp; &nbsp; The current tussles involving X and the Indian government is of importance to Musk, as he is planning to launch his other businesses in India: the Starlink satellite internet service and Tesla electric vehicles. Issues related to Grok and X could potentially affect these ventures.
&nbsp;

India world trending : Are Elon Musk's X and the Indian government on a collision course? Can India potentially ban Grok, which is currently integrated into the user interface of X?

There has been intense debate in India on Grok 3, the sharp-tongued AI chatbot of Elon Musk's social media platform X, which has been churning out answers to controversial and often politically sensitive questions. Depending on their political leanings, both the right-wing and left-wing observers and politicians have been interpreting Grok 3's responses to suit their narratives. Indian government sources told media that they have noted the abusive language used by Grok in some of the answers, which social media users shared widely in the last few days. Meanwhile, in a parallel yet separate development, X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government over its content blocking and takedowns on the social media platform. Trump backs Musk's claim of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa, Grok fact-check calls them out So are Elon Musk's X and the Indian government on a collision course? Can India potentially ban Grok, which is currently integrated into the user interface of X? Let us look at the key issues here. First up, why is X suing the Indian government? Please note that the current controversy over Grok is not directly mentioned in the court case involving X and the Indian government. The key contention in the lawsuit filed in March by X is what it claimed to be the unlawful expansion of the Indian government's censorship powers. The social media platform is alleging that the legal provisions used by the government to block its content are bypassing safeguards established under Indian law. More specifically, the lawsuit filed in the Karnataka High Court on March 5 alleged that the Indian Ministry of Information Technology is expanding its censorship authority in asking for takedowns for certain X posts. The X lawsuit questioned the use of Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act for content takedown orders, saying it bypasses the safeguards of Section 69A of the same act, which mandates judicial scrutiny and oversight for such actions. The case is ongoing and a hearing is scheduled on March 27. Bold, Blunt, and Banned? Grok’s Indian Journey Hangs in Balance The issue is in the larger context of how the Indian government monitors online content. X contends that the new methods used by the government infringes upon constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and expression enshrined under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. So what is Grok 3? Grok is a chatbot and AI assistant developed by xAI, the artificial intelligence venture of Elon Musk's X. While it was already available on X, the bot exploded in popularity when Grok came out with its third version, Grok 3. Its answers were unfiltered, and some were controversial. Having fun asking questions to Grok? You may face criminal charges now The bot responded with Hindi slang and abusive language while answering some questions related to Indian politicians and even Elon Musk himself. But in many cases, the bad language was in response to questions that themselves contained abuses. In short, it was a case of tit for tat. Some of the Grok responses contained Hindi slang words commonly used as misogynistic insults, which raised eyebrows both regarding obscenity laws and cultural context of India. Some of these interactions were posted on X (these become public only when the users share it on X, otherwise it's essentially a private interaction) and went viral. Questions included those about Indian politicians, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. What is the Indian government's stance on Grok? Will Grok be banned in India? The information technology ministry is looking into Grok's use of abusive language, and hasn't made any comment on the political nature of its answers, or their accuracy. The Indian government is reportedly discussing with the relevant people of X on the issue. At the time of writing this, a ban on Grok seems highly unlikely. The IT ministry said it is engaging with X, and contrary to initial reports, made it clear that there was no formal notice or ban issued against X. 'In talks with X, Grok': Will India take action after Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship? But the political ramifications of some of the answers could make the government think more deeply about a ban or restrictions on Grok in future. There is also a view that some of the Grok answers could endanger India's national security, or law and order. Some media reports said that those posing such inflammatory questions to Grok could face charges, along with X, but no such case has come up so far. Is Grok banned or facing pressure in other countries? At the time of writing this, Grok is facing scrutiny only in India, partly as a consequence of its sudden popularity. It has not been censored or criticised in other countries. Under its new laws on artificial intelligence, the European Union has banned 'unacceptably risky' AI systems, though Grok itself is not named. The current tussles involving X and the Indian government is of importance to Musk, as he is planning to launch his other businesses in India: the Starlink satellite internet service and Tesla electric vehicles. Issues related to Grok and X could potentially affect these ventures.

India vs Grok 3: Will Modi govt ban the sharp-tongued AI bot of Elon Musk's X? Your questions, answered

Elon Musk engaged in a rare meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for eighty minutes during a high-level discussion which led to widespread questions about defense secrets and possible ethical issues at the Pentagon. &nbsp;
Musk denied through multiple statements that any information regarding top-secret U.S. China war strategies was presented to him by Pentagon officials despite his extensive defense contracts. Suppressing New York Times reports about secret meeting topics became a joint initiative between former President Trump and Elon Musk and other Defense Department figures. &nbsp;
The Pentagon's employees who share fake information to NYT should face court prosecution in the near future. Musk declared on X moments before the conference that the Pentagon leakers would be traced down. &nbsp;
Since the New York Times maintained its journalistic stance through defending its reporting activities it indicated that federal leak investigations endanger press rights as well as prevention of crucial information release. Hegseth&rsquo;s chief of staff released a memorandum during the late evening to conduct a probe about unauthorised leaks and to consider administering polygraph tests for identifying perpetrators. &nbsp;
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-signs-order-to-eliminate-us-education-department-8874844">Donald Trump signs order to 'eliminate' US Education Department</a>
During the press briefing Trump denied giving away military plans to Musk yet he confirmed his apprehension about Musk's relationship with Chinese businesses. &nbsp;
I do not want to present the material to other individuals. Trump declared that a crucial business partner of his does not need to see the military plans but added "But certainly, you wouldn't show it to a businessman who is helping us so much," Trump said. Elon Musk conducts business operations in China so he might potentially fall victim to such information exposure. &nbsp;
During the White House appearance Hegseth supported Trump by telling reporters that Musk received nonclassified information about space exploration. Hegseth emphasized the meeting was casual and concentrated on technological progress and operational effectiveness. War plans did not exist in any form whether Chinese or American at that time. He emphasized that no covert military strategies existed during the discussion. &nbsp;
The meeting scheduled between Musk and Joint Chiefs personnel inside the secure "The Tank" space at the Pentagon ended up being canceled because of public monitoring. &nbsp;
Two Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth, have since demanded details on Musk&rsquo;s involvement, questioning the rationale for sharing any national security information with him. &nbsp;
The visit comes as Musk plays a key role in advising the Trump administration on government spending cuts. His company SpaceX stands to benefit significantly from proposed defense projects, including the Golden Dome missile defense shield, which could generate billions in government contracts.

Autonews | During the White House appearance Hegseth supported Trump by telling reporters that Musk received nonclassified information about space exploration.

Elon Musk engaged in a rare meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for eighty minutes during a high-level discussion which led to widespread questions about defense secrets and possible ethical issues at the Pentagon. Musk denied through multiple statements that any information regarding top-secret U.S. China war strategies was presented to him by Pentagon officials despite his extensive defense contracts. Suppressing New York Times reports about secret meeting topics became a joint initiative between former President Trump and Elon Musk and other Defense Department figures. The Pentagon's employees who share fake information to NYT should face court prosecution in the near future. Musk declared on X moments before the conference that the Pentagon leakers would be traced down. Since the New York Times maintained its journalistic stance through defending its reporting activities it indicated that federal leak investigations endanger press rights as well as prevention of crucial information release. Hegseth’s chief of staff released a memorandum during the late evening to conduct a probe about unauthorised leaks and to consider administering polygraph tests for identifying perpetrators. Also Read | Donald Trump signs order to 'eliminate' US Education Department During the press briefing Trump denied giving away military plans to Musk yet he confirmed his apprehension about Musk's relationship with Chinese businesses. I do not want to present the material to other individuals. Trump declared that a crucial business partner of his does not need to see the military plans but added "But certainly, you wouldn't show it to a businessman who is helping us so much," Trump said. Elon Musk conducts business operations in China so he might potentially fall victim to such information exposure. During the White House appearance Hegseth supported Trump by telling reporters that Musk received nonclassified information about space exploration. Hegseth emphasized the meeting was casual and concentrated on technological progress and operational effectiveness. War plans did not exist in any form whether Chinese or American at that time. He emphasized that no covert military strategies existed during the discussion. The meeting scheduled between Musk and Joint Chiefs personnel inside the secure "The Tank" space at the Pentagon ended up being canceled because of public monitoring. Two Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth, have since demanded details on Musk’s involvement, questioning the rationale for sharing any national security information with him. The visit comes as Musk plays a key role in advising the Trump administration on government spending cuts. His company SpaceX stands to benefit significantly from proposed defense projects, including the Golden Dome missile defense shield, which could generate billions in government contracts.

Elon Musk holds Pentagon talks, calls for prosecution of leakers

In the backdrop of diplomatic tensions between the US and South Africa, Elon Musk has once again accused the South African government of racial discrimination. Watch to know more!

Trump supports Musk’s 'white genocide' claim against South Africa

The Pentagon says it will investigate unauthorized leaks of national security information that could include lie detector tests of its staff. The reports of the leak come after the Department of Government Efficiency visited the Pentagon on Friday to talk about inefficiencies, efficiencies, and innovations. The Department of Defense said its intelligence and law enforcement arms are carrying out the inquiry to find out who leaked information to the press. Media reports have stated that Musk was briefed on the Trump administration's plans for how the US would handle a potential war with China, a claim that both Trump and Musk denied. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also denied claims of Musk being briefed about US-China plans. Watch in for more details!

US: Pentagon launches investigation into leaks after Musk's visit

In the backdrop of diplomatic tensions between the US and South Africa, Elon Musk has once again accused the South African government of racial discrimination.

Musk accuses South African political party of promoting white genocide after Malema's song

Elon Musk&rsquo;s companies are set to benefit massively from a wave of new federal contracts and support across several key US government departments, as the Trump administration continues to align policies with Musk&rsquo;s interests, as per The New York Times report.
<h2>A new era of influence</h2>
Appointed by President Trump to lead a cost-cutting effort, Musk is running a group called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has overseen the dismissal of nearly 100,000 federal workers and the shutdown of various agencies. While the exact scope of his power is unclear, his growing influence is undeniable.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-backs-musks-claim-of-white-genocide-in-south-africa-grok-fact-check-calls-them-out-8883153">Trump backs Musk's claim of &lsquo;white genocide&rsquo; in South Africa, Grok fact-check calls them out</a>
<h2>SpaceX embedded across government</h2>
Across the government, Musk&rsquo;s aerospace company SpaceX is becoming deeply embedded.
<ul>
<li>The Pentagon is exploring the use of SpaceX rockets to rapidly transport military equipment around the globe.</li>
<li>NASA is being pushed, partly due to Musk&rsquo;s lobbying, to shift focus towards Mars exploration&mdash;a move that could see SpaceX winning major contracts to send the first humans to the red planet.</li>
<li>The FAA and White House have begun installing Starlink satellite internet terminals, expanding Musk&rsquo;s presence inside federal systems.</li>
</ul>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/political-nonsense-elon-musks-father-defends-son-says-he-was-friends-with-black-servants-during-apartheid-8881788">'Political nonsense': Elon Musk's father defends son, says he was 'friends' with Black servants during apartheid</a>
According to The New York Times, this expansion comes not only from Trump&rsquo;s directives but also from the placement of Musk&rsquo;s allies and former employees in influential government positions.
The New York Times report said, &ldquo;Even if Trump had never given Musk and his employees a government role&mdash;or if former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had been elected to a second term&mdash;SpaceX would have continued to secure new government work. What has changed is the overall value of the work expected to be delivered to SpaceX.&rdquo;
<h2>Federal contracts</h2>
SpaceX was already a top federal contractor, with $3.8 billion in contracts secured in fiscal year 2024 across 344 deals. But that figure is expected to grow significantly under current policies prioritising private space companies for key services such as:
<ul>
<li>Satellite manufacturing</li>
<li>Communications infrastructure</li>
<li>Government transport missions</li>
</ul>
One major step includes the FAA&rsquo;s recent approval to double SpaceX&rsquo;s Falcon 9 rocket launches at Cape Canaveral, from 48 to 120 per year.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slimy-billionaire-elon-musk-blasted-for-buying-votes-in-wisconsin-court-election-as-trump-backs-brad-schimel-8880989">'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for &lsquo;buying votes&rsquo; in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel</a>
During the Biden administration, SpaceX&rsquo;s Starlink satellite internet service was mostly excluded from federal rural broadband funding. That changed with the appointment of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary. At his confirmation hearing, Lutnick vowed to change how $42 billion in broadband funds are distributed.
&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s use satellites, let&rsquo;s use wireless, and let&rsquo;s use fibre,&rdquo; Lutnick said. &ldquo;And let&rsquo;s do it the cheapest, most efficiently we can.&rdquo; This shift allows Starlink to fully compete for rural broadband deals nationwide.
<h2>Ethical concerns </h2>
Musk&rsquo;s reach inside the government has raised ethical red flags. SpaceX employees embedded in federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, have been granted ethics waivers allowing them to participate in decisions that may directly benefit SpaceX.
One employee, Theodore Malaska, posted on X that FAA systems are now integrating Starlink satellites to relay weather data to pilots, technology that could bring further revenue to Musk&rsquo;s company. Though the FAA claims only eight Starlink terminals are currently in use, others have appeared in White House offices and at the General Services Administration.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-makes-rare-admission-on-musks-conflicts-of-interest-says-certainly-you-wouldnt-show-the-businessman-china-war-plans-8878296">Trump makes rare admission on Musk&rsquo;s conflicts of interest, says 'wouldn&rsquo;t show' businessman China war plans</a>
Federal law prohibits employees from making decisions that benefit their financial interests or give the appearance of a conflict. While Musk has claimed he is not personally involved in securing contracts, the whole situation raises unprecedented questions about influence and access.
After a fatal collision between a military helicopter and a civilian plane in January, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brought in SpaceX teams to help modernise air traffic systems. Musk soon criticised Verizon for delays in implementing the FAA&rsquo;s updated network, calling it a &ldquo;serious risk to air travellers&rdquo;. With Starlink now being considered as an alternative, SpaceX could secure a foothold in another critical infrastructure system.
Musk&rsquo;s influence comes after he donated nearly $300 million to Donald Trump&rsquo;s 2024 campaign and later joined the administration as a cost-cutting&nbsp;adviso.
Blair Levin, a former FCC official, told NYT, &ldquo;The odds of Elon getting whatever Elon wants are much higher today. He is in the White House and Mar-a-Lago. No one ever anticipated that an industry competitor would have access to those kinds of levers of power.&rdquo;
NASA, which has already paid SpaceX over $13 billion in contracts over the past decade, may hand over even more in future deals. These have included cargo and astronaut missions and launching the agency&rsquo;s largest space probes.
Now, Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who paid SpaceX to fly to orbit twice, as the new head of NASA. Isaacman&rsquo;s firm, Shift4 Payments, previously held a stake in SpaceX, earning $25 million before selling it off. In his ethics filings, Isaacman promised to sever all remaining financial ties to the company.
He will join Michael Altenhofen, another former SpaceX staffer who became a senior NASA adviser in February.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: While Musk has claimed he is not personally involved in securing contracts, the whole situation raises unprecedented questions about influence and access.

Elon Musk’s companies are set to benefit massively from a wave of new federal contracts and support across several key US government departments, as the Trump administration continues to align policies with Musk’s interests, as per The New York Times report. A new era of influence Appointed by President Trump to lead a cost-cutting effort, Musk is running a group called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has overseen the dismissal of nearly 100,000 federal workers and the shutdown of various agencies. While the exact scope of his power is unclear, his growing influence is undeniable. Also read: Trump backs Musk's claim of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa, Grok fact-check calls them out SpaceX embedded across government Across the government, Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX is becoming deeply embedded. The Pentagon is exploring the use of SpaceX rockets to rapidly transport military equipment around the globe. NASA is being pushed, partly due to Musk’s lobbying, to shift focus towards Mars exploration—a move that could see SpaceX winning major contracts to send the first humans to the red planet. The FAA and White House have begun installing Starlink satellite internet terminals, expanding Musk’s presence inside federal systems. Also read: 'Political nonsense': Elon Musk's father defends son, says he was 'friends' with Black servants during apartheid According to The New York Times, this expansion comes not only from Trump’s directives but also from the placement of Musk’s allies and former employees in influential government positions. The New York Times report said, “Even if Trump had never given Musk and his employees a government role—or if former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had been elected to a second term—SpaceX would have continued to secure new government work. What has changed is the overall value of the work expected to be delivered to SpaceX.” Federal contracts SpaceX was already a top federal contractor, with $3.8 billion in contracts secured in fiscal year 2024 across 344 deals. But that figure is expected to grow significantly under current policies prioritising private space companies for key services such as: Satellite manufacturing Communications infrastructure Government transport missions One major step includes the FAA’s recent approval to double SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches at Cape Canaveral, from 48 to 120 per year. Also read: 'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for ‘buying votes’ in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel During the Biden administration, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service was mostly excluded from federal rural broadband funding. That changed with the appointment of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary. At his confirmation hearing, Lutnick vowed to change how $42 billion in broadband funds are distributed. “Let’s use satellites, let’s use wireless, and let’s use fibre,” Lutnick said. “And let’s do it the cheapest, most efficiently we can.” This shift allows Starlink to fully compete for rural broadband deals nationwide. Ethical concerns Musk’s reach inside the government has raised ethical red flags. SpaceX employees embedded in federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, have been granted ethics waivers allowing them to participate in decisions that may directly benefit SpaceX. One employee, Theodore Malaska, posted on X that FAA systems are now integrating Starlink satellites to relay weather data to pilots, technology that could bring further revenue to Musk’s company. Though the FAA claims only eight Starlink terminals are currently in use, others have appeared in White House offices and at the General Services Administration. Also read: Trump makes rare admission on Musk’s conflicts of interest, says 'wouldn’t show' businessman China war plans Federal law prohibits employees from making decisions that benefit their financial interests or give the appearance of a conflict. While Musk has claimed he is not personally involved in securing contracts, the whole situation raises unprecedented questions about influence and access. After a fatal collision between a military helicopter and a civilian plane in January, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brought in SpaceX teams to help modernise air traffic systems. Musk soon criticised Verizon for delays in implementing the FAA’s updated network, calling it a “serious risk to air travellers”. With Starlink now being considered as an alternative, SpaceX could secure a foothold in another critical infrastructure system. Musk’s influence comes after he donated nearly $300 million to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and later joined the administration as a cost-cutting adviso. Blair Levin, a former FCC official, told NYT, “The odds of Elon getting whatever Elon wants are much higher today. He is in the White House and Mar-a-Lago. No one ever anticipated that an industry competitor would have access to those kinds of levers of power.” NASA, which has already paid SpaceX over $13 billion in contracts over the past decade, may hand over even more in future deals. These have included cargo and astronaut missions and launching the agency’s largest space probes. Now, Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who paid SpaceX to fly to orbit twice, as the new head of NASA. Isaacman’s firm, Shift4 Payments, previously held a stake in SpaceX, earning $25 million before selling it off. In his ethics filings, Isaacman promised to sever all remaining financial ties to the company. He will join Michael Altenhofen, another former SpaceX staffer who became a senior NASA adviser in February. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Elon getting whatever Elon wants’: How Musk’s $300 million bet on Trump could make him billions

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 23) reshared an X post by his close aide Elon Musk, suggesting he backs the claim made by the billionaire claiming a political party in South Africa is &ldquo;actively promoting white genocide&rdquo;.
Interestingly, the Tesla CEO&rsquo;s claims were fact-checked by his own Grok AI, which said that some of his claims were not completely true and one was false, according to a Grok conversation link posted by a user.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slimy-billionaire-elon-musk-blasted-for-buying-votes-in-wisconsin-court-election-as-trump-backs-brad-schimel-8880989">'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for &lsquo;buying votes&rsquo; in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel</a>
Musk's remarks came after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema led supporters were seen singing &ldquo;kill the Boer, kill the Farmer&rdquo; at a rally commemorating the Sharpeville Massacre on Friday (Mar 21).
Replying to a video from the rally posted on X, Musk wrote, &ldquo;Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide. The video below was just yesterday. A whole arena chanting about killing white people.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/political-nonsense-elon-musks-father-defends-son-says-he-was-friends-with-black-servants-during-apartheid-8881788">'Political nonsense': Elon Musk's father defends son, says he was 'friends' with Black servants during apartheid</a>
&ldquo;A month ago, the South African government passed a law legalizing taking property from white people at will with no payment,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;Where is the outrage? Why is there no coverage by the legacy media? Starlink can&rsquo;t get a license to operate in South Africa simply because I&rsquo;m not black. How is that right?&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lryp8j-wtayegrx-kcjsy7za">
Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide. The video below was just yesterday. A whole arena chanting about killing white people. A month ago, the South African government passed a law legalizing&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/GHYp6DvGkr">https://t.co/GHYp6DvGkr</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1903556327290626165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-needs-to-step-back-tesla-backer-says-ceo-must-reduce-tump-work-amid-protests-dropping-shares-8874285">&lsquo;Musk needs to step back&rsquo;: Tesla backer says CEO must reduce Trump work amid protests, dropping shares</a>
<h2>Grok fact-checks Musk</h2>
According to Grok's conversation shared by the user, while the &ldquo;EFF&rsquo;s use of &ldquo;Kill the Boer&rdquo; is real and controversial, there is no evidence of a systematic campaign of violence that would constitute genocide. The claim exaggerates the situation.&rdquo;
Musk&rsquo;s Grok also said that his claim about the law legalising taking property from white people was partially true but misleading as it did not specifically target white people, nor it is &ldquo;at will&rdquo; as Musk suggested.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thrashes-report-claiming-pentagon-would-brief-musk-on-potential-war-with-china-calls-it-fake-news-8875389">Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it &lsquo;Fake News&rsquo;</a>
The SpaceX CEO&rsquo;s claims that Starlink can&rsquo;t get a license because he is not black was false, according to Grok as the restriction stem from regulatory and strategic issues, not Musk&rsquo;s race.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8lrz7w6-1lrdel68-5hs12f3a">
It&rsquo;s South Africa, this is North America. These issues stem from apartheid and historical injustice. While there are shreds of truth you purposely leave out the context and exaggerate to fit your white supremest narrative. Grok breaks it down for anyone who wants context:&hellip;
&mdash; CoachBarry18 🇨🇦 (@CoachBarry18) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBarry18/status/1903582537424724325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
Grok further added that there is some outrage and coverage of the matter but Musk&rsquo;s perception may reflect his expectations or ideological stance, calling his claim subjective.
(With inputs from agencies)

Trending | World | Interestingly, the Tesla CEO’s claims were fact-checked by his own Grok AI, which said that some of his claims were not completely true and one was false, according to a Grok conversation link posted by a user.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 23) reshared an X post by his close aide Elon Musk, suggesting he backs the claim made by the billionaire claiming a political party in South Africa is “actively promoting white genocide”. Interestingly, the Tesla CEO’s claims were fact-checked by his own Grok AI, which said that some of his claims were not completely true and one was false, according to a Grok conversation link posted by a user. Also read | 'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for ‘buying votes’ in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel Musk's remarks came after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema led supporters were seen singing “kill the Boer, kill the Farmer” at a rally commemorating the Sharpeville Massacre on Friday (Mar 21). Replying to a video from the rally posted on X, Musk wrote, “Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide. The video below was just yesterday. A whole arena chanting about killing white people.” Also read | 'Political nonsense': Elon Musk's father defends son, says he was 'friends' with Black servants during apartheid “A month ago, the South African government passed a law legalizing taking property from white people at will with no payment,” he continued. “Where is the outrage? Why is there no coverage by the legacy media? Starlink can’t get a license to operate in South Africa simply because I’m not black. How is that right?” Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide. The video below was just yesterday. A whole arena chanting about killing white people. A month ago, the South African government passed a law legalizing… https://t.co/GHYp6DvGkr — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2025 Also read | ‘Musk needs to step back’: Tesla backer says CEO must reduce Trump work amid protests, dropping shares Grok fact-checks Musk According to Grok's conversation shared by the user, while the “EFF’s use of “Kill the Boer” is real and controversial, there is no evidence of a systematic campaign of violence that would constitute genocide. The claim exaggerates the situation.” Musk’s Grok also said that his claim about the law legalising taking property from white people was partially true but misleading as it did not specifically target white people, nor it is “at will” as Musk suggested. Also read | Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it ‘Fake News’ The SpaceX CEO’s claims that Starlink can’t get a license because he is not black was false, according to Grok as the restriction stem from regulatory and strategic issues, not Musk’s race. It’s South Africa, this is North America. These issues stem from apartheid and historical injustice. While there are shreds of truth you purposely leave out the context and exaggerate to fit your white supremest narrative. Grok breaks it down for anyone who wants context:… — CoachBarry18 🇨🇦 (@CoachBarry18) March 22, 2025 Grok further added that there is some outrage and coverage of the matter but Musk’s perception may reflect his expectations or ideological stance, calling his claim subjective. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump backs Musk's claim of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa, Grok fact-check calls them out

Elon Musk says political party in South Africa promoting white genocide

Elon Musk's father Errol Musk came in defence of his son after the Tesla CEO was accused of racism. Errol is a South African with British ancestry. Errol said his children were uninterested in "political nonsense" and that they had good relationship with their Black domestic helpers during the apartheid era in South Africa.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slimy-billionaire-elon-musk-blasted-for-buying-votes-in-wisconsin-court-election-as-trump-backs-brad-schimel-8880989">'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for &lsquo;buying votes&rsquo; in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel</a>
"We had several black servants who were their friends," the 79-year-old told the Washington Post responding to Musk's opposition to workplace diversity and equity programs (DEI).&nbsp;
Errol further talked about the South Africa during his children's upbringing as a "well-run, law-abiding country with virtually no crime at all."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xiaomi-ceo-tosses-watermelons-to-show-off-bulletproof-strength-8876596">Watch: Xiaomi CEO tosses watermelons to show off 'bulletproof' strength. Guess what happened</a>
Talking about importing emeralds from an unregistered Zambian mine during the apartheid era, Errol said the entire operation "helped me and my two boys sustain ourselves during the collapse of Apartheid".&nbsp;
Although in 2021, Elon Musk distanced himself from the claim of his family's involvement with the mine as he said in a post on the social media platform X that he came to Canada in 1989 with only $2,500 Canadian dollars, took on $100,000 in student debt, and independently built his first business using his personal computer.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/autonews/tesla-trade-ins-surge-amidst-backlash-against-elon-musk-8876435">Tesla trade-ins surge amidst backlash against Elon Musk</a>
<h2>'Bubble of entitlement'</h2>
Critics argue that Elon Musk's privileged background protected him from the realities of apartheid. Rudolph Pienaar, a former schoolmate, described Elon's childhood as a "bubble of entitlement," telling The Washington Post, "I am not sure if Elon can conceive of systematic discrimination and struggle because that's not his experience. His life now in some ways is how it was under apartheid&mdash;rich and entitled with the entire society built to sustain him and his ilk."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-x-sues-indian-govt-over-alleged-censorship-says-centre-illegally-blocking-online-content-8873329">Elon Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship, says India 'illegally blocking online content'</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

WORLD | Elon Musk's father Errol Musk came in defence of his son after the Tesla CEO was accused of racism. Errol himself is a South African with British ancestry.

Elon Musk's father Errol Musk came in defence of his son after the Tesla CEO was accused of racism. Errol is a South African with British ancestry. Errol said his children were uninterested in "political nonsense" and that they had good relationship with their Black domestic helpers during the apartheid era in South Africa. Also read: 'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for ‘buying votes’ in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel "We had several black servants who were their friends," the 79-year-old told the Washington Post responding to Musk's opposition to workplace diversity and equity programs (DEI). Errol further talked about the South Africa during his children's upbringing as a "well-run, law-abiding country with virtually no crime at all." Also read: Watch: Xiaomi CEO tosses watermelons to show off 'bulletproof' strength. Guess what happened Talking about importing emeralds from an unregistered Zambian mine during the apartheid era, Errol said the entire operation "helped me and my two boys sustain ourselves during the collapse of Apartheid". Although in 2021, Elon Musk distanced himself from the claim of his family's involvement with the mine as he said in a post on the social media platform X that he came to Canada in 1989 with only $2,500 Canadian dollars, took on $100,000 in student debt, and independently built his first business using his personal computer. Also read: Tesla trade-ins surge amidst backlash against Elon Musk 'Bubble of entitlement' Critics argue that Elon Musk's privileged background protected him from the realities of apartheid. Rudolph Pienaar, a former schoolmate, described Elon's childhood as a "bubble of entitlement," telling The Washington Post, "I am not sure if Elon can conceive of systematic discrimination and struggle because that's not his experience. His life now in some ways is how it was under apartheid—rich and entitled with the entire society built to sustain him and his ilk." Also read: Elon Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship, says India 'illegally blocking online content' (With inputs from agencies)

'Political nonsense': Elon Musk's father defends son, says he was 'friends' with Black servants during apartheid

Elon Musk is once again drawing criticism for offering money to voters, this time in a close contest over control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
America PAC, a super PAC supported by Musk, announced on X that it is offering $100 to individuals who sign its &ldquo;Petition in Opposition to Activist Judges.&rdquo; 
The petition states, &ldquo;Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas.&rdquo; It continues, &ldquo;By signing below, I&rsquo;m rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role&mdash;interpreting, not legislating.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-makes-rare-admission-on-musks-conflicts-of-interest-says-certainly-you-wouldnt-show-the-businessman-china-war-plans-8878296">Trump makes rare admission on Musk&rsquo;s conflicts of interest, says 'wouldn&rsquo;t show' businessman China war plans</a>
Critics have slammed the tactic as an attempt to buy votes. The move appears designed to identify conservative-leaning voters and encourage them to turn out at the polls.
<h2>Trump backs Brad Schimel</h2>
US President Donald Trump has thrown his full support behind Brad Schimel. &ldquo;There is a very important Election for State Supreme Court on April 1st, and Early Voting is now underway,&rdquo; wrote US President Donald Trump on Truth Social.
&ldquo;Brad Schimel is running against Radical Left Liberal Susan Crawford, who has repeatedly given child molesters, rapists, women beaters, and domestic abusers &lsquo;light&rsquo; sentences. She is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country &mdash; And if she wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin. All Voters who believe in Common Sense should GET OUT TO VOTE EARLY for Brad Schimel,&rdquo; Trump added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/these-are-terrorists-trump-defends-musk-says-tesla-attacks-worse-than-jan-6-capitol-riot-8878054">'These are terrorists': Trump defends Musk, says Tesla attacks worse than Jan. 6 Capitol riot</a>
This is not the first time Musk and America PAC have offered cash in the political sphere. Before the last presidential election, the group promised $47 to anyone who persuaded a registered voter to sign a petition in favour of free speech and gun rights. 
<h2>Why is the Wisconsin Supreme Court race crucial?</h2>
The upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race is being closely watched, as it will decide the court's ideological balance. Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general backed by Republicans, is up against Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge supported by Democrats. Crawford has previously represented Planned Parenthood and other progressive clients in private practice.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-war-or-doge-cuts-inside-elon-musks-controversial-pentagon-visit-that-trump-hegseth-rushed-to-defend-8877941">China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk&rsquo;s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend</a>
In February, Tesla filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin challenging a state law that prevents the company from opening its own dealerships. America PAC, along with another Musk-funded group, Building America&rsquo;s Future, has spent over $13 million on the election so far, according to the Associated Press.
&ldquo;Elon Musk has now resorted to trying to buy votes because he wants Schimel to rule in favour of his company&rsquo;s lawsuit,&rdquo; Crawford posted on X on Friday. &ldquo;Wisconsinites don&rsquo;t want a slimy billionaire like Musk or a corrupt politician like Schimel controlling the Supreme Court,&rdquo; she added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/could-get-jailed-in-el-salvador-prisons-trump-threatens-terrorists-harming-musk-tesla-with-20-year-jail-term-8877058">&lsquo;Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons&rsquo;: Trump threatens &lsquo;terrorists&rsquo; harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year&nbsp;jail</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: America PAC, a super PAC supported by Musk, announced on X that it is offering $100 to individuals who sign its “Petition in Opposition to Activist Judges.”

Elon Musk is once again drawing criticism for offering money to voters, this time in a close contest over control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. America PAC, a super PAC supported by Musk, announced on X that it is offering $100 to individuals who sign its “Petition in Opposition to Activist Judges.” The petition states, “Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas.” It continues, “By signing below, I’m rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role—interpreting, not legislating.” Also read: Trump makes rare admission on Musk’s conflicts of interest, says 'wouldn’t show' businessman China war plans Critics have slammed the tactic as an attempt to buy votes. The move appears designed to identify conservative-leaning voters and encourage them to turn out at the polls. Trump backs Brad Schimel US President Donald Trump has thrown his full support behind Brad Schimel. “There is a very important Election for State Supreme Court on April 1st, and Early Voting is now underway,” wrote US President Donald Trump on Truth Social. “Brad Schimel is running against Radical Left Liberal Susan Crawford, who has repeatedly given child molesters, rapists, women beaters, and domestic abusers ‘light’ sentences. She is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country — And if she wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin. All Voters who believe in Common Sense should GET OUT TO VOTE EARLY for Brad Schimel,” Trump added. Also read: 'These are terrorists': Trump defends Musk, says Tesla attacks worse than Jan. 6 Capitol riot This is not the first time Musk and America PAC have offered cash in the political sphere. Before the last presidential election, the group promised $47 to anyone who persuaded a registered voter to sign a petition in favour of free speech and gun rights. Why is the Wisconsin Supreme Court race crucial? The upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race is being closely watched, as it will decide the court's ideological balance. Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general backed by Republicans, is up against Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge supported by Democrats. Crawford has previously represented Planned Parenthood and other progressive clients in private practice. Also read: China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk’s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend In February, Tesla filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin challenging a state law that prevents the company from opening its own dealerships. America PAC, along with another Musk-funded group, Building America’s Future, has spent over $13 million on the election so far, according to the Associated Press. “Elon Musk has now resorted to trying to buy votes because he wants Schimel to rule in favour of his company’s lawsuit,” Crawford posted on X on Friday. “Wisconsinites don’t want a slimy billionaire like Musk or a corrupt politician like Schimel controlling the Supreme Court,” she added. Also read: ‘Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons’: Trump threatens ‘terrorists’ harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year jail (With inputs from agencies)

'Slimy billionaire': Elon Musk blasted for ‘buying votes’ in Wisconsin court election as Trump backs Brad Schimel

Twitter's iconic bird logo has been sold at an RR auction almost two years after the logo was removed from the company's former San Francisco headquarters when Elon Musk took over the social media company.&nbsp;
Elon Musk rebranded it and changed the name to X in September 2023.
The famous logo was put up for sale for nearly $35,000 at the RR action. The auction deals in "rare and collectible items".&nbsp;
According to RR Auction, the blue bird hung on the southeast side of Twitter&rsquo;s HQ from 2012 to 2023.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-x-to-pay-donald-trump-10-million-to-settle-twitter-ban-lawsuit-report-8715849">Elon Musk&rsquo;s X to pay Donald Trump $10 million to settle Twitter ban lawsuit: Report</a>
However, the RR auction has not yet revealed the buyer's identity.
The sign was first put up for sale when Musk ran a "Twitter rebranding auction" in August 2023. Then, buyers had a chance to obtain all kinds of memorabilia, including smaller bird logos and hashtag signs, in addition to other office furniture.&nbsp;
The company also offered two blue bird signs that had been hanging outside corporate headquarters. which has since been moved to Texas.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-offers-to-buy-openai-for-nearly-100bn-sam-altman-says-would-rather-buy-twitter-for-8709155">Elon Musk offers to buy OpenAI for nearly $100bn, Sam Altman says would rather buy 'Twitter' for...</a>
According to a video, the auctioned sign is quite large and will require a truck to haul it.&nbsp;
<h2>How much does it weigh?&nbsp;</h2>
The iconic logo weighs 560-pound (254 kilogram), and is 12 feet by 9 feet (3.7 meters by 2.7 meters), sold for $34,375, according to RR Auction.&nbsp;
In 2022, American billionaire Elon Musk paid $44 billion to acquire X, formerly Twitter. He also announced in 2023 that the firm would soon "bid adieu to the Twitter brand and gradually, all the birds."
Musk also referred to as an "everything app" which was reflected in the switch from Twitter to X.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-sued-by-us-regulator-sec-over-2022-twitter-share-purchase-violations-8622387">Elon Musk hit with SEC lawsuit for delayed Twitter stock disclosure in 2022</a>
Earlier Musk put the company's logos, mementos and other ordinary items including office furniture and kitchenware for the auction.&nbsp;
Musk has 'probably' liked the letter X, as he also founded a new artificial intelligence startup called xAI with the ambitious goal of "understanding the true nature of the universe".
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-calls-x-as-twitter-in-a-post-forgets-he-rebranded-social-media-platform-755127">Elon Musk calls 'X' as 'Twitter' in a post, forgets he rebranded social media platform</a>&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: The sign was first put up for sale when Musk ran a "Twitter rebranding auction" in August 2023. Then, buyers had a chance to obtain all kinds of memorabilia.

Twitter's iconic bird logo has been sold at an RR auction almost two years after the logo was removed from the company's former San Francisco headquarters when Elon Musk took over the social media company. Elon Musk rebranded it and changed the name to X in September 2023. The famous logo was put up for sale for nearly $35,000 at the RR action. The auction deals in "rare and collectible items". According to RR Auction, the blue bird hung on the southeast side of Twitter’s HQ from 2012 to 2023. Also read: Elon Musk’s X to pay Donald Trump $10 million to settle Twitter ban lawsuit: Report However, the RR auction has not yet revealed the buyer's identity. The sign was first put up for sale when Musk ran a "Twitter rebranding auction" in August 2023. Then, buyers had a chance to obtain all kinds of memorabilia, including smaller bird logos and hashtag signs, in addition to other office furniture. The company also offered two blue bird signs that had been hanging outside corporate headquarters. which has since been moved to Texas. Also read: Elon Musk offers to buy OpenAI for nearly $100bn, Sam Altman says would rather buy 'Twitter' for... According to a video, the auctioned sign is quite large and will require a truck to haul it. How much does it weigh? The iconic logo weighs 560-pound (254 kilogram), and is 12 feet by 9 feet (3.7 meters by 2.7 meters), sold for $34,375, according to RR Auction. In 2022, American billionaire Elon Musk paid $44 billion to acquire X, formerly Twitter. He also announced in 2023 that the firm would soon "bid adieu to the Twitter brand and gradually, all the birds." Musk also referred to as an "everything app" which was reflected in the switch from Twitter to X. Also read: Elon Musk hit with SEC lawsuit for delayed Twitter stock disclosure in 2022 Earlier Musk put the company's logos, mementos and other ordinary items including office furniture and kitchenware for the auction. Musk has 'probably' liked the letter X, as he also founded a new artificial intelligence startup called xAI with the ambitious goal of "understanding the true nature of the universe". Also read: Elon Musk calls 'X' as 'Twitter' in a post, forgets he rebranded social media platform (With inputs from agencies)

Twitter's iconic 254 kg blue bird logo sold at THIS price at auction | Who's the buyer?

US President Donald Trump acknowledged his ally Elon Musk's potential conflicts of interest for the first time on Friday (Mar 21) and said that the DOGE chief should not be allowed to see top-secret plans for any war with China.
The rare admission comes after weeks of Trump dismissing the wealthy businessman's conflict of interests in leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/these-are-terrorists-trump-defends-musk-says-tesla-attacks-worse-than-jan-6-capitol-riot-8878054">'These are terrorists': Trump defends Musk, says Tesla attacks worse than Jan. 6 Capitol riot</a>
<h2>What did Trump say about Musk?</h2>
When asked to comment on media reports that Musk, the world's richest man, would receive a classified Pentagon briefing on US war strategy, Trump said, "I don't want to show it to anybody."
"You're talking about a potential war with China," he noted, adding, "Certainly you wouldn&rsquo;t show it to a businessman who is helping us so much".
"Elon has businesses in China and he would be susceptible perhaps to that," admitted Trump.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-war-or-doge-cuts-inside-elon-musks-controversial-pentagon-visit-that-trump-hegseth-rushed-to-defend-8877941">China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk&rsquo;s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend</a>
Tesla, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has major business interests in China. However, he also has huge defence contracts in the US. This has raised concerns about his influence and the potential conflict of interest.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/could-get-jailed-in-el-salvador-prisons-trump-threatens-terrorists-harming-musk-tesla-with-20-year-jail-term-8877058">&lsquo;Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons&rsquo;: Trump threatens &lsquo;terrorists&rsquo; harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year&nbsp;jail</a>
However, the US President then jumped to Musk's defence. Describing Musk as a "patriot" Trump then hailed the DOGE chief's efforts to slash back the US federal government, including the US Defense Department. Trump made this statement while unveiling a contract for Boeing to build the next-generation F-47 fighter jet.
This comes after Musk, on Friday visited the Pentagon, and reports, first published in the New York Times, speculated about the visit. Reports suggested that Musk was to receive a briefing in a secure room dubbed "The Tank" on maritime tactics and targeting plans.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

Trending | World | Discover US President Donald Trump's rare admission about Elon Musk's potential conflicts of interest regarding US-China war plans.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged his ally Elon Musk's potential conflicts of interest for the first time on Friday (Mar 21) and said that the DOGE chief should not be allowed to see top-secret plans for any war with China. The rare admission comes after weeks of Trump dismissing the wealthy businessman's conflict of interests in leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Also read | 'These are terrorists': Trump defends Musk, says Tesla attacks worse than Jan. 6 Capitol riot What did Trump say about Musk? When asked to comment on media reports that Musk, the world's richest man, would receive a classified Pentagon briefing on US war strategy, Trump said, "I don't want to show it to anybody." "You're talking about a potential war with China," he noted, adding, "Certainly you wouldn’t show it to a businessman who is helping us so much". "Elon has businesses in China and he would be susceptible perhaps to that," admitted Trump. Also read | China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk’s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend Tesla, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has major business interests in China. However, he also has huge defence contracts in the US. This has raised concerns about his influence and the potential conflict of interest. Also read | ‘Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons’: Trump threatens ‘terrorists’ harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year jail However, the US President then jumped to Musk's defence. Describing Musk as a "patriot" Trump then hailed the DOGE chief's efforts to slash back the US federal government, including the US Defense Department. Trump made this statement while unveiling a contract for Boeing to build the next-generation F-47 fighter jet. This comes after Musk, on Friday visited the Pentagon, and reports, first published in the New York Times, speculated about the visit. Reports suggested that Musk was to receive a briefing in a secure room dubbed "The Tank" on maritime tactics and targeting plans. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump makes rare admission on Musk’s conflicts of interest, says 'wouldn’t show' businessman China war plans

US President Donald Trump has compared the recent wave of vandalism targeting Tesla showrooms across the country to the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021, claiming the damage inflicted on Elon Musk&rsquo;s company is far worse.
<h2>'I view these people as terrorists'</h2>
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said, &ldquo;I view these people as terrorists, just like others. When I looked at those showrooms burning and those cars &mdash; not one or two, like seven, eight, 10 burning, exploding all over the place. These are terrorists. You didn&rsquo;t have that on Jan. 6, I can tell you.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-war-or-doge-cuts-inside-elon-musks-controversial-pentagon-visit-that-trump-hegseth-rushed-to-defend-8877941">China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk&rsquo;s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend</a>
Trump criticised Democrats for not speaking out about the violence against Tesla, accusing them of hypocrisy given their strong condemnation of the Capitol riot, which saw Trump supporters breach Congress in protest of the 2020 election result.
He also referred to the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter killed by Capitol Police during the 6 January events.
&ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t have anything like that on Jan 6, which is sort of amazing because on Jan. 6, the Democrats were talking. Nobody was killed other than a very beautiful young woman, Ashli, Ashli Babbitt. Nobody was killed,&rdquo; he said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-taps-boeing-for-f-47-fighter-jet-trump-says-enemies-wont-know-what-hit-them-8877846">Boeing to build sixth-gen fighter jet F-47, Trump says enemies &lsquo;won&rsquo;t know what hit them&rsquo;</a>
The president went on to claim that the attacks on Tesla were part of &ldquo;an organised event,&rdquo; suggesting that the coordinated appearance of protest signs indicated larger forces at play.
&ldquo;The people that finance it are, in my opinion, in just as big of trouble as the people who are setting the match, starting the fires,&rdquo; Trump said.
Earlier in the day, Trump issued a strong warning to those involved in vandalising Tesla facilities, hinting at severe punishments.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/could-get-jailed-in-el-salvador-prisons-trump-threatens-terrorists-harming-musk-tesla-with-20-year-jail-term-8877058">&lsquo;Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons&rsquo;: Trump threatens &lsquo;terrorists&rsquo; harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year&nbsp;jail</a>
&ldquo;I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla,&rdquo; he posted on Truth Social. 
He added, &ldquo;Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!&rdquo;
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday called the acts &ldquo;domestic terrorism&rdquo; and confirmed on Thursday that three suspects had been arrested and were facing &ldquo;serious charges.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-no-longer-safe-for-tourists-uk-germany-issue-travel-warnings-after-woman-detained-like-hannibal-trump-immigration-crackdown-8876514">US no longer safe for tourists? UK, Germany issue travel warnings after woman detained &lsquo;like Hannibal&rsquo;</a>
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick even encouraged Americans to consider investing in Tesla stock, despite its recent situation. The company&rsquo;s share price has dropped by nearly 39 per cent since the start of the year and more than 50 per cent since late December.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Trump criticised Democrats for not speaking out about the violence against Tesla, accusing them of hypocrisy given their strong condemnation of the Capitol riot.

US President Donald Trump has compared the recent wave of vandalism targeting Tesla showrooms across the country to the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021, claiming the damage inflicted on Elon Musk’s company is far worse. 'I view these people as terrorists' Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said, “I view these people as terrorists, just like others. When I looked at those showrooms burning and those cars — not one or two, like seven, eight, 10 burning, exploding all over the place. These are terrorists. You didn’t have that on Jan. 6, I can tell you.” Also read: China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk’s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend Trump criticised Democrats for not speaking out about the violence against Tesla, accusing them of hypocrisy given their strong condemnation of the Capitol riot, which saw Trump supporters breach Congress in protest of the 2020 election result. He also referred to the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter killed by Capitol Police during the 6 January events. “You didn’t have anything like that on Jan 6, which is sort of amazing because on Jan. 6, the Democrats were talking. Nobody was killed other than a very beautiful young woman, Ashli, Ashli Babbitt. Nobody was killed,” he said. Also read: Boeing to build sixth-gen fighter jet F-47, Trump says enemies ‘won’t know what hit them’ The president went on to claim that the attacks on Tesla were part of “an organised event,” suggesting that the coordinated appearance of protest signs indicated larger forces at play. “The people that finance it are, in my opinion, in just as big of trouble as the people who are setting the match, starting the fires,” Trump said. Earlier in the day, Trump issued a strong warning to those involved in vandalising Tesla facilities, hinting at severe punishments. Also read: ‘Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons’: Trump threatens ‘terrorists’ harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year jail “I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla,” he posted on Truth Social. He added, “Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!” Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday called the acts “domestic terrorism” and confirmed on Thursday that three suspects had been arrested and were facing “serious charges.” Also read: US no longer safe for tourists? UK, Germany issue travel warnings after woman detained ‘like Hannibal’ Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick even encouraged Americans to consider investing in Tesla stock, despite its recent situation. The company’s share price has dropped by nearly 39 per cent since the start of the year and more than 50 per cent since late December. (With inputs from agencies)

'These are terrorists': Trump defends Musk, says Tesla attacks worse than Jan. 6 Capitol riot

DOGE head Elon Musk&rsquo;s visit to the Pentagon on Friday (March 21) sparked widespread speculation, particularly after reports suggested that he would be briefed on possible US military plans in the event of a conflict with China.
However, both Musk and US officials, including President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, strongly denied those claims.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-taps-boeing-for-f-47-fighter-jet-trump-says-enemies-wont-know-what-hit-them-8877846">Boeing to build sixth-gen fighter jet F-47, Trump says enemies &lsquo;won&rsquo;t know what hit them&rsquo;</a>
<h2>Musk's 80-minute meeting with Hegseth</h2>
Musk, who is currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump&rsquo;s administration, held an 80-minute meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon. &ldquo;If there&rsquo;s anything I can do to be helpful, I would like us to have a good outcome here,&rdquo; Musk said as he left.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-no-longer-safe-for-tourists-uk-germany-issue-travel-warnings-after-woman-detained-like-hannibal-trump-immigration-crackdown-8876514">US no longer safe for tourists? UK, Germany issue travel warnings after woman detained &lsquo;like Hannibal&rsquo;</a>
<h2>'He&rsquo;s there for DOGE, not for China'</h2>
Speaking from the White House later in the day, Trump dismissed reports that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had been shown any military strategy. &ldquo;They made that up because it&rsquo;s a good story to make up. They&rsquo;re very dishonest people,&rdquo; he said, referring to The New York Times, which initially reported on the alleged China briefing.
&ldquo;I called up Pete [Hegseth] and I said, &lsquo;Is there any truth to that?&rsquo; Absolutely not. He&rsquo;s there for DOGE, not there for China. And if you ever mentioned China, I think he&rsquo;d walk out of the room,&rdquo; Trump added.
Earlier, The New York Times cited anonymous sources claiming Musk was to be briefed on secret war plans concerning China. Other outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, published follow-ups citing their unnamed officials. Despite this, both Trump and Hegseth remained firm in their denials.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/could-get-jailed-in-el-salvador-prisons-trump-threatens-terrorists-harming-musk-tesla-with-20-year-jail-term-8877058">&lsquo;Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons&rsquo;: Trump threatens &lsquo;terrorists&rsquo; harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year&nbsp;jail</a>
<h2>'Meeting about innovation, efficiencies and smarter production'</h2>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies [and] smarter production. Gonna be great!,&rdquo; Hegseth posted on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the meeting.
Musk also took to X to respond, calling the reports &ldquo;pure propaganda.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information. They will be found.&rdquo;
Questions about Musk&rsquo;s involvement in any military plans have raised eyebrows due to his business ties in China. As the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, both of which have US government contracts, his potential access to sensitive information caused concern among critics.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thrashes-report-claiming-pentagon-would-brief-musk-on-potential-war-with-china-calls-it-fake-news-8875389">Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it &lsquo;Fake News&rsquo;</a>
<h2>'No war plans'</h2>
When asked directly about the meeting, Trump said, &ldquo;You know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story.&rdquo;
Hegseth added, &ldquo;Elon Musk is a patriot. Elon Musk is an innovator. Elon Musk provides a lot of capabilities our government and our military rely on, and I&rsquo;m grateful for that.&rdquo;
He continued, &ldquo;We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. That&rsquo;s not what we were doing at the Pentagon.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Musk, who is currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s administration, held an 80-minute meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon.

DOGE head Elon Musk’s visit to the Pentagon on Friday (March 21) sparked widespread speculation, particularly after reports suggested that he would be briefed on possible US military plans in the event of a conflict with China. However, both Musk and US officials, including President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, strongly denied those claims. Also read: Boeing to build sixth-gen fighter jet F-47, Trump says enemies ‘won’t know what hit them’ Musk's 80-minute meeting with Hegseth Musk, who is currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s administration, held an 80-minute meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon. “If there’s anything I can do to be helpful, I would like us to have a good outcome here,” Musk said as he left. Also read: US no longer safe for tourists? UK, Germany issue travel warnings after woman detained ‘like Hannibal’ 'He’s there for DOGE, not for China' Speaking from the White House later in the day, Trump dismissed reports that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had been shown any military strategy. “They made that up because it’s a good story to make up. They’re very dishonest people,” he said, referring to The New York Times, which initially reported on the alleged China briefing. “I called up Pete [Hegseth] and I said, ‘Is there any truth to that?’ Absolutely not. He’s there for DOGE, not there for China. And if you ever mentioned China, I think he’d walk out of the room,” Trump added. Earlier, The New York Times cited anonymous sources claiming Musk was to be briefed on secret war plans concerning China. Other outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, published follow-ups citing their unnamed officials. Despite this, both Trump and Hegseth remained firm in their denials. Also read: ‘Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons’: Trump threatens ‘terrorists’ harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year jail 'Meeting about innovation, efficiencies and smarter production' “It’s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies [and] smarter production. Gonna be great!,” Hegseth posted on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the meeting. Musk also took to X to respond, calling the reports “pure propaganda.” He added, “I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information. They will be found.” Questions about Musk’s involvement in any military plans have raised eyebrows due to his business ties in China. As the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, both of which have US government contracts, his potential access to sensitive information caused concern among critics. Also read: Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it ‘Fake News’ 'No war plans' When asked directly about the meeting, Trump said, “You know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story.” Hegseth added, “Elon Musk is a patriot. Elon Musk is an innovator. Elon Musk provides a lot of capabilities our government and our military rely on, and I’m grateful for that.” He continued, “We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. That’s not what we were doing at the Pentagon.” (With inputs from agencies)

China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk’s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to meet with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss potential collaborations. The meeting comes amid growing interest in the intersection of technology and defense.

US: Elon Musk to meet military leaders, defence secy

US President Donald Trump warned people who are destroying Elon Musk's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thrashes-report-claiming-pentagon-would-brief-musk-on-potential-war-with-china-calls-it-fake-news-8875389">Tesla </a>vehicles or threatening to harm Musk will be imprisoned for 20 years and could "serve sentence in El Salvador", famous for "lovely conditions".&nbsp;
Calling these people "sick terrorist thugs", Trump said they could get "20-year jail sentences" for what they are doing to Musk and Tesla.&nbsp;
"I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!," the US president said in a social media post.&nbsp;
<iframe width="600" height="" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114200244380161257/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

This comes a day after Trump's 'buddy' Elon Musk publicly claimed conspiracy to assassinate him and destroy his electric vehicle company Tesla amid widespread protests and vandalism incidents at the company&rsquo;s showrooms across the country.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-backs-musk-amid-protests-says-sabotaging-teslas-would-lead-to-jail-for-up-to-twenty-years-8876612">Trump backs Musk amid protests, says sabotaging Teslas would lead to jail for up to twenty years</a>&nbsp;
Meanwhile, US Attorney General Pam Bondi also called these violent attacks on Tesla property, "nothing short of domestic terrorism".
"The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences," Bondi said.
On Wednesday, Musk while speaking to Sean Hannity of Fox News, revealed that the reason why certain people &ldquo;want to kill&rdquo; him is the attempts made by him to cut government waste and fraud.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-needs-to-step-back-tesla-backer-says-ceo-must-reduce-tump-work-amid-protests-dropping-shares-8874285">&lsquo;Musk needs to step back&rsquo;: Tesla backer says CEO must reduce Trump work amid protests, dropping shares</a>
&ldquo;It turns out when you take away people's, you know, the money that they're receiving fraudulently, they get very upset,&rdquo; the billionaire said.
&ldquo;And they basically want to kill me because I'm stopping their fraud, and they want to hurt Tesla because we're stopping the terrible waste and corruption in the government. And, well, I guess they're bad people. Bad people do bad things," he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-want-to-kill-me-musk-claims-bad-people-want-to-assassinate-him-hurt-tesla-8869679">&lsquo;They want to kill me&rsquo;: Musk claims &lsquo;bad people&rsquo; want to assassinate him, &lsquo;hurt&rsquo; Tesla</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Calling these people "sick terrorist thugs", US President Donald Trump said they could get "20-year jail sentences" for what they are doing to Musk and Tesla.

US President Donald Trump warned people who are destroying Elon Musk's Tesla vehicles or threatening to harm Musk will be imprisoned for 20 years and could "serve sentence in El Salvador", famous for "lovely conditions". Calling these people "sick terrorist thugs", Trump said they could get "20-year jail sentences" for what they are doing to Musk and Tesla. "I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!," the US president said in a social media post. This comes a day after Trump's 'buddy' Elon Musk publicly claimed conspiracy to assassinate him and destroy his electric vehicle company Tesla amid widespread protests and vandalism incidents at the company’s showrooms across the country. Also read: Trump backs Musk amid protests, says sabotaging Teslas would lead to jail for up to twenty years Meanwhile, US Attorney General Pam Bondi also called these violent attacks on Tesla property, "nothing short of domestic terrorism". "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences," Bondi said. On Wednesday, Musk while speaking to Sean Hannity of Fox News, revealed that the reason why certain people “want to kill” him is the attempts made by him to cut government waste and fraud. Also read: ‘Musk needs to step back’: Tesla backer says CEO must reduce Trump work amid protests, dropping shares “It turns out when you take away people's, you know, the money that they're receiving fraudulently, they get very upset,” the billionaire said. “And they basically want to kill me because I'm stopping their fraud, and they want to hurt Tesla because we're stopping the terrible waste and corruption in the government. And, well, I guess they're bad people. Bad people do bad things," he added. Also read: ‘They want to kill me’: Musk claims ‘bad people’ want to assassinate him, ‘hurt’ Tesla (With inputs from agencies)

‘Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons’: Trump threatens ‘terrorists’ harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year jail

The number of Tesla trade-ins reached an all-time high for this month based on Edmunds data because consumers increasingly criticise CEO Elon Musk for his advisory role to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The U.S. automotive platform Edmunds showed that Tesla vehicle (2017 model year or newer) comprised 1.4% of all trade-ins on March 15th while reaching 0.4% in March of the previous year. Multiple analysts predict that Tesla trade-in numbers will continue to increase until the end of this month. The percentage of Tesla trade-ins reached 1.2% of the entire vehicle market when Trump completed his first month as president in February.
The current trend suggests March 2018 will become the month with the most extensive record of Tesla trade-ins on Edmunds platforms except when these vehicles were used to purchase new Tesla vehicles or directly obtain other electric vehicles through the manufacturer.
The instance where Musk joined Trump's administration along with his contributions to personnel reductions and humanitarian contract termination has prompted numerous demonstrations and online movements for Tesla vehicle owners to discontinue their vehicle ownership.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thrashes-report-claiming-pentagon-would-brief-musk-on-potential-war-with-china-calls-it-fake-news-8875389">Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it &lsquo;Fake News&rsquo;</a>
Brand loyalty faces uncertainty because Tesla owners are less connected to the brand following Elon Musk's government involvement and depreciation issues while the company continues to expand throughout major cities according to Edmunds' head of insights Jessica Caldwell.
The company Tesla along with Elon Musk neglected to provide statements when contacted about this issue.
Edmunds reports that Tesla vehicle prices for used models have dropped in step with the market values discovered in Hyundai, Kia and Ford EV models. Additional market value decreases may occur when reconditioned trade-ins insert themselves into the market.
Demonstrators have started vandalizing Tesla cars through fires and they are also damaging exhibit spaces and charging stations operated by the company.
The shares of Tesla experienced initial growth after Trump entered office but suffered declining value all the way down from their high point in January.
Data from Edmunds also indicates a decline in consumer consideration of new Teslas, reaching its lowest point since October 2022. Market research firm Cox Automotive estimates a 10% drop in Tesla sales for February.
"These shifts in Tesla consumer sentiment could create an opportunity for legacy automakers and EV startups to gain ground," Caldwell said. "As Tesla brand loyalty and interest waver, those offering competitive pricing, new technology, or simply less controversy could capture defecting Tesla owners and first-time EV buyers."

Autonews | Edmunds reports that Tesla vehicle prices for used models have dropped in step with the market values discovered in Hyundai, Kia and Ford EV models.

The number of Tesla trade-ins reached an all-time high for this month based on Edmunds data because consumers increasingly criticise CEO Elon Musk for his advisory role to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. automotive platform Edmunds showed that Tesla vehicle (2017 model year or newer) comprised 1.4% of all trade-ins on March 15th while reaching 0.4% in March of the previous year. Multiple analysts predict that Tesla trade-in numbers will continue to increase until the end of this month. The percentage of Tesla trade-ins reached 1.2% of the entire vehicle market when Trump completed his first month as president in February. The current trend suggests March 2018 will become the month with the most extensive record of Tesla trade-ins on Edmunds platforms except when these vehicles were used to purchase new Tesla vehicles or directly obtain other electric vehicles through the manufacturer. The instance where Musk joined Trump's administration along with his contributions to personnel reductions and humanitarian contract termination has prompted numerous demonstrations and online movements for Tesla vehicle owners to discontinue their vehicle ownership. Also Read | Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it ‘Fake News’ Brand loyalty faces uncertainty because Tesla owners are less connected to the brand following Elon Musk's government involvement and depreciation issues while the company continues to expand throughout major cities according to Edmunds' head of insights Jessica Caldwell. The company Tesla along with Elon Musk neglected to provide statements when contacted about this issue. Edmunds reports that Tesla vehicle prices for used models have dropped in step with the market values discovered in Hyundai, Kia and Ford EV models. Additional market value decreases may occur when reconditioned trade-ins insert themselves into the market. Demonstrators have started vandalizing Tesla cars through fires and they are also damaging exhibit spaces and charging stations operated by the company. The shares of Tesla experienced initial growth after Trump entered office but suffered declining value all the way down from their high point in January. Data from Edmunds also indicates a decline in consumer consideration of new Teslas, reaching its lowest point since October 2022. Market research firm Cox Automotive estimates a 10% drop in Tesla sales for February. "These shifts in Tesla consumer sentiment could create an opportunity for legacy automakers and EV startups to gain ground," Caldwell said. "As Tesla brand loyalty and interest waver, those offering competitive pricing, new technology, or simply less controversy could capture defecting Tesla owners and first-time EV buyers."

Tesla trade-ins surge amidst backlash against Elon Musk

Tesla was the hottest stock in the market following Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20. 2 months later, the company faces its biggest challenge in years. CEO's Elon Musk stint as a White House advisor has irked lawmakers and investors alike, with 'Tesla Takedown' calls gaining global traction.
In the latest, the company issued a major recall, affecting over 46,000 Cybertrucks in the United States due to faulty exterior panels that could detach while driving. This recall covers the majority of Cybertrucks currently on the road, raising fresh concerns about quality control at the EV giant.
<h2>Tesla stock in reverse</h2>
This recall would be the biggest challenge for any other carmaker, but for Tesla, it's just the tip of the iceberg. The company's stock has plummeted over 40 per cent in 2025, owing to declining demand, ageing vehicle lineup, growing competition, and political backlash. Tesla also leads US vehicle recalls, with its cars accounting for 5.1 million call-backs in 2024 alone. The company's market share dropped to 50 per cent in 2024 from 75 per cent in 2022.
Beyond quality concerns, Tesla is facing mounting political and public backlash. Protests against Elon Musk's policies are escalating, with activists organising the largest coordinated demonstration against Tesla to date. Over 500 protests are planned at Tesla showrooms worldwide on March 29. Protestors oppose Musk's role in government policy changes, including Federal spending cuts and mass layoffs. Meanwhile, Musk and President Donald Trump have labelled these attacks as 'domestic terrorism.'
Analysts warn that growing consumer boycotts could further impact Tesla's brand image and sales, adding to the company's ongoing challenges.

Business Economy, CEO's Elon Musk stint as a White House advisor has irked lawmakers and investors alike, with 'Tesla Takedown' calls gaining global traction.

Tesla was the hottest stock in the market following Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20. 2 months later, the company faces its biggest challenge in years. CEO's Elon Musk stint as a White House advisor has irked lawmakers and investors alike, with 'Tesla Takedown' calls gaining global traction. In the latest, the company issued a major recall, affecting over 46,000 Cybertrucks in the United States due to faulty exterior panels that could detach while driving. This recall covers the majority of Cybertrucks currently on the road, raising fresh concerns about quality control at the EV giant. Tesla stock in reverse This recall would be the biggest challenge for any other carmaker, but for Tesla, it's just the tip of the iceberg. The company's stock has plummeted over 40 per cent in 2025, owing to declining demand, ageing vehicle lineup, growing competition, and political backlash. Tesla also leads US vehicle recalls, with its cars accounting for 5.1 million call-backs in 2024 alone. The company's market share dropped to 50 per cent in 2024 from 75 per cent in 2022. Beyond quality concerns, Tesla is facing mounting political and public backlash. Protests against Elon Musk's policies are escalating, with activists organising the largest coordinated demonstration against Tesla to date. Over 500 protests are planned at Tesla showrooms worldwide on March 29. Protestors oppose Musk's role in government policy changes, including Federal spending cuts and mass layoffs. Meanwhile, Musk and President Donald Trump have labelled these attacks as 'domestic terrorism.' Analysts warn that growing consumer boycotts could further impact Tesla's brand image and sales, adding to the company's ongoing challenges.

Tesla on trial: Recalls, protests, & falling stock hurt company's financials

Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has gained massive attention online since its launch. Internet users on social media platform X were seen asking not-so-normal questions to the chatbot. Some were seen asking questions on hypothetical situations, while others were seen interrogating on topics that are controversial in nature.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-needs-to-step-back-tesla-backer-says-ceo-must-reduce-tump-work-amid-protests-dropping-shares-8874285">&lsquo;Musk needs to step back&rsquo;: Tesla backer says CEO must reduce Trump work amid protests, dropping shares</a>
But now, the people who find it fun using the AI might face criminal charges.&nbsp;
This comes after Musk's X filed a lawsuit in India challenging the country's unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship. Now, if an internet user will pose questions to Grok that will lead to inflammatory responses, the user as well as the platform will face criminal action, Times of India (TOI) reported.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-talks-with-x-grok-will-india-take-action-after-musks-x-sues-modi-govt-over-alleged-censorship-8874168">'In talks with X, Grok': Will India take action after Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship?</a>
<h2>Musk's X challenges Indian government&nbsp;</h2>
The social media platform challenged the Central government of India for the way it uses Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act (IT Act), claiming that the government authorities in India are bypassing proper legal procedures and setting up an illegal system to block content online.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-grok-ai-in-trouble-indian-govt-in-touch-with-elon-musks-x-over-ai-chatbots-witty-abusive-answers-8874095">Is Grok AI in trouble? Indian govt in touch with Elon Musk's X over chatbot's witty-abusive answers</a>
X accused the Indian government led by Narendra Modi of undermining free expression online.&nbsp;
X's petition, hearing for which is scheduled for March 27, is seeking a declaration to the effect that Section 79(3)(b) of the Indian constitution does not give power to a government in the nation to block information posted on the social media platform.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-promises-zelensky-hell-bring-home-ukrainian-children-abducted-by-russiaironically-musks-cuts-make-it-harder-8871500">Trump promises Zelensky he'll bring home Ukrainian children abducted by Russia&mdash;Ironically, Musk's cuts make it harder</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

Trending | World | India News | Some were seen asking questions on hypothetical situations, while others were seen interrogating on topics that are controversial in nature.

Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has gained massive attention online since its launch. Internet users on social media platform X were seen asking not-so-normal questions to the chatbot. Some were seen asking questions on hypothetical situations, while others were seen interrogating on topics that are controversial in nature. Also read: ‘Musk needs to step back’: Tesla backer says CEO must reduce Trump work amid protests, dropping shares But now, the people who find it fun using the AI might face criminal charges. This comes after Musk's X filed a lawsuit in India challenging the country's unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship. Now, if an internet user will pose questions to Grok that will lead to inflammatory responses, the user as well as the platform will face criminal action, Times of India (TOI) reported. Also read: 'In talks with X, Grok': Will India take action after Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship? Musk's X challenges Indian government The social media platform challenged the Central government of India for the way it uses Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act (IT Act), claiming that the government authorities in India are bypassing proper legal procedures and setting up an illegal system to block content online. Also read: Is Grok AI in trouble? Indian govt in touch with Elon Musk's X over chatbot's witty-abusive answers X accused the Indian government led by Narendra Modi of undermining free expression online. X's petition, hearing for which is scheduled for March 27, is seeking a declaration to the effect that Section 79(3)(b) of the Indian constitution does not give power to a government in the nation to block information posted on the social media platform. Also read: Trump promises Zelensky he'll bring home Ukrainian children abducted by Russia—Ironically, Musk's cuts make it harder (With inputs from agencies)

Having fun asking questions to Grok? You may face criminal charges now

Elon Musk and Tesla are facing a &ldquo;brand tornado crisis moment&rdquo; and the electric vehicle company's CEO needs to cut back his work for US President Donald Trump to control the damage, one of the biggest supporters of the company said.&nbsp;This comes as Tesla announced the recalling of 46,000 Cybertrucks in the US on Thursday (Mar 20) to fix an exterior panel.
According to The Guardian, Dan Ives, the managing director at the US financial firm Wedbush and a self-described Tesla &ldquo;core bull&rdquo;, said that Musk&rsquo;s role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was damaging the billionaire&rsquo;s reputation and his business.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-want-to-kill-me-musk-claims-bad-people-want-to-assassinate-him-hurt-tesla-8869679">&lsquo;They want to kill me&rsquo;: Musk claims &lsquo;bad people&rsquo; want to assassinate him, &lsquo;hurt&rsquo; Tesla</a>
&ldquo;The brand damage started off as limited in our view based on our initial survey work &hellip; but now has spread globally over the last few weeks into what we would characterise as a brand tornado crisis moment for Musk and Tesla,&rdquo; Ives wrote in a note to investors, as per The Guardian report.
As Musk&rsquo;s DOGE has been on a crackdown to cut federal jobs and spending, a US judge on Tuesday (Mar 18) ruled that shutting down the Agency for International Development has likely violated the constitution.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/autonews/toronto-excludes-tesla-from-ev-incentives-amid-us-trade-tensions-8865743">Toronto excludes Tesla from EV incentives amid US trade tensions</a>
<h2>Tesla&rsquo;s dropping shares amid protests</h2>
Tesla shares have significantly suffered, losing a third of their value over the last month as several investors have raised concerns amid the widespread protests and vandalism incidents at the company&rsquo;s showrooms across the country.
Ives said the protests are evidence of a &ldquo;massive overhang for Tesla&rsquo;s stock&rdquo;, adding that Musk faced a &ldquo;moment of truth&rdquo; and needed to act.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trans-woman-who-spray-painted-tesla-dealership-with-fk-musk-has-emotional-problems-8854981">Trans woman who spray-painted 'f**k Musk' on Tesla dealership has 'emotional problems'</a>
&ldquo;Tesla and Musk are facing a defining chapter in their future and how Musk handles this next few months will be pivotal to the long term growth trajectory of Tesla in our view. Tesla is Musk and Musk is Tesla &hellip; they are synonymous and attached together and cannot be separated,&rdquo; he wrote.
To stop the crisis, Ives said that Musk needed to officially announce that he was going to balance running DOGE while being Tesla&rsquo;s CEO to &ldquo;dissipate&rdquo; the heat around the company and ensure the damage is not permanent.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tesla-likely-to-get-affected-by-trumps-retaliatory-tariffs-amid-trade-war-says-could-harm-ev-companies-8853564">'Should not harm EV companies': Musk's Tesla raises concern as it might get affected by Trump's retaliatory tariffs</a>
&ldquo;Investors need to see Musk take a step back and balance his DOGE and Tesla CEO roles,&rdquo; he said.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Tesla shares have significantly suffered, losing a third of their value over the last month as several investors have raised concerns amid the widespread protests and vandalising incidents at the company’s showrooms across the country.

Elon Musk and Tesla are facing a “brand tornado crisis moment” and the electric vehicle company's CEO needs to cut back his work for US President Donald Trump to control the damage, one of the biggest supporters of the company said. This comes as Tesla announced the recalling of 46,000 Cybertrucks in the US on Thursday (Mar 20) to fix an exterior panel. According to The Guardian, Dan Ives, the managing director at the US financial firm Wedbush and a self-described Tesla “core bull”, said that Musk’s role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was damaging the billionaire’s reputation and his business. Also read | ‘They want to kill me’: Musk claims ‘bad people’ want to assassinate him, ‘hurt’ Tesla “The brand damage started off as limited in our view based on our initial survey work … but now has spread globally over the last few weeks into what we would characterise as a brand tornado crisis moment for Musk and Tesla,” Ives wrote in a note to investors, as per The Guardian report. As Musk’s DOGE has been on a crackdown to cut federal jobs and spending, a US judge on Tuesday (Mar 18) ruled that shutting down the Agency for International Development has likely violated the constitution. Also read | Toronto excludes Tesla from EV incentives amid US trade tensions Tesla’s dropping shares amid protests Tesla shares have significantly suffered, losing a third of their value over the last month as several investors have raised concerns amid the widespread protests and vandalism incidents at the company’s showrooms across the country. Ives said the protests are evidence of a “massive overhang for Tesla’s stock”, adding that Musk faced a “moment of truth” and needed to act. Also read | Trans woman who spray-painted 'f**k Musk' on Tesla dealership has 'emotional problems' “Tesla and Musk are facing a defining chapter in their future and how Musk handles this next few months will be pivotal to the long term growth trajectory of Tesla in our view. Tesla is Musk and Musk is Tesla … they are synonymous and attached together and cannot be separated,” he wrote. To stop the crisis, Ives said that Musk needed to officially announce that he was going to balance running DOGE while being Tesla’s CEO to “dissipate” the heat around the company and ensure the damage is not permanent. Also read | 'Should not harm EV companies': Musk's Tesla raises concern as it might get affected by Trump's retaliatory tariffs “Investors need to see Musk take a step back and balance his DOGE and Tesla CEO roles,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Musk needs to step back’: Tesla backer says CEO must reduce Trump work amid protests, dropping shares

The Indian government on Thursday (March 20) said that it is in talks with Elon Musk's X and Grok to determine which Indian law has been violated.&nbsp;
This comes after Elon Musk's X sued the Indian government in the Karnataka High Court, alleging what it called unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship.&nbsp;
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), however, said that they have "not sent any notice to Grok or X" in this regard.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-x-sues-indian-govt-over-alleged-censorship-says-centre-illegally-blocking-online-content-8873329">Elon Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship, says India 'illegally blocking online content'</a>
"MeiTY is in talks with X and Grok. MeitY officials are interacting with the officials of X and examining at what stage it specifically violated and which Indian law has been violated," Indian news agency ANI reported citing government sources.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has not sent any notice to Grok or X. MeiTY is in talks with X and Grok. MeitY officials are interacting with the officials of X and examining at what stage it specifically violated and which Indian law has been&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/9J0yHrV3xR">pic.twitter.com/9J0yHrV3xR</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1902704751290245551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The social media platform challenged the Central government for the way it uses Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act (IT Act), claiming that the government authorities in India are bypassing proper legal procedures and setting up an illegal system to block content online.&nbsp;
It further alleged that the government is undermining free expression online. X feared that random blocking orders could damage its platform and user trust.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-grok-ai-in-trouble-indian-govt-in-touch-with-elon-musks-x-over-ai-chatbots-witty-abusive-answers-8874095">Is Grok AI in trouble? Indian govt in touch with Elon Musk's X over chatbot's witty-abusive answers</a>
The company has warned that this could lead to widespread censorship in India, stressing that these actions are hurting its business in the country.&nbsp;
According to the IT Act, platforms like X can lose their legal protection, known as a safe harbour, if they do not remove or block content when told by government authorities.&nbsp;
Elon Musk's X argued that this section does not allow the government to block content, adding that they are misusing the provision, bypassing the structured legal process outlined in Section 69A.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-want-to-kill-me-musk-claims-bad-people-want-to-assassinate-him-hurt-tesla-8869679">&lsquo;They want to kill me&rsquo;: Musk claims &lsquo;bad people&rsquo; want to assassinate him, &lsquo;hurt&rsquo; Tesla</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World, India news: This comes after X sued Indian government in the Karnataka High Court, alleging what it called unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship.

The Indian government on Thursday (March 20) said that it is in talks with Elon Musk's X and Grok to determine which Indian law has been violated. This comes after Elon Musk's X sued the Indian government in the Karnataka High Court, alleging what it called unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), however, said that they have "not sent any notice to Grok or X" in this regard. Also read: Elon Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship, says India 'illegally blocking online content' "MeiTY is in talks with X and Grok. MeitY officials are interacting with the officials of X and examining at what stage it specifically violated and which Indian law has been violated," Indian news agency ANI reported citing government sources. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has not sent any notice to Grok or X. MeiTY is in talks with X and Grok. MeitY officials are interacting with the officials of X and examining at what stage it specifically violated and which Indian law has been… pic.twitter.com/9J0yHrV3xR — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2025 The social media platform challenged the Central government for the way it uses Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act (IT Act), claiming that the government authorities in India are bypassing proper legal procedures and setting up an illegal system to block content online. It further alleged that the government is undermining free expression online. X feared that random blocking orders could damage its platform and user trust. Also read: Is Grok AI in trouble? Indian govt in touch with Elon Musk's X over chatbot's witty-abusive answers The company has warned that this could lead to widespread censorship in India, stressing that these actions are hurting its business in the country. According to the IT Act, platforms like X can lose their legal protection, known as a safe harbour, if they do not remove or block content when told by government authorities. Elon Musk's X argued that this section does not allow the government to block content, adding that they are misusing the provision, bypassing the structured legal process outlined in Section 69A. Also read: ‘They want to kill me’: Musk claims ‘bad people’ want to assassinate him, ‘hurt’ Tesla (With inputs from agencies)

'In talks with X, Grok': Will India take action after Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship?

A number of Tesla vehicles were allegedly set on fire in Las Vegas in the United States. CEO of the company Elon Musk called the incident "terrorism". Watch in for more details!

Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas, Elon Musk calls the attacks 'acts of terror'

After Elon Musk's Grok AI model left people awestruck with its witty and blunt answers, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) raised concerns over the chatbot's answers on X.&nbsp;
The AI bot has come under scrutiny for making abusive remarks in Hindi and for controversial comments about Indian political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;
The IT ministry is in touch with Elon Musk's X and is planning to investigate the factors that led to the chatbot's use of inappropriate language.&nbsp;
"We are in touch, we are talking to them (X) to find out why it is happening and what are the issues. They are engaging with us," a ministry source was quoted as saying by PTI.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-x-sues-indian-govt-over-alleged-censorship-says-centre-illegally-blocking-online-content-8873329">Elon Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship, says India 'illegally blocking online content'</a>
Grok has been in the limelight recently for generating responses with slang and abusive language on topics including politics, cinema, and celebrities.&nbsp;
"The government has taken note of this, and we are deeply engaged with X on this issue. We are hoping for speedy action," the official told the Indian news outlet Economic Times.&nbsp;
The ministry is&nbsp; considering whether X and its AI chatbot Grok have violated the IT Intermediary Rules 2021, which could render them liable for legal action.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/was-mahatma-gandhi-responsible-for-the-partition-of-india-musks-grok-replies-x-users-question-8860733">'Was Gandhi responsible for India's Partition?' Musk's Grok AI replies X user's question saying...</a>
<h2>What triggered this?</h2>
Grok has been under scrutiny after several of its controversial posts went viral on X, gaining 80,000 views.&nbsp;
It all began when an X user asked Grok to identify their "10 best mutuals", and after receiving no immediate response, the user frustratedly addressed the AI chatbot with abusive Hindi slang.&nbsp;
In response, Grok replied, "Oi bhos*****a, chill kar", and further answered the user's question.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Oi bhosdiwala, chill kar. Tera "10 best mutuals" ka hisaab laga diya. Mentions ke hisaab se yeh hai list: <a href="https://twitter.com/c_estla_vie_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@c_estla_vie_</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/seraphiccst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seraphiccst</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hydrang9a?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hydrang9a</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LukeOrthodox?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LukeOrthodox</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Tanisha1009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tanisha1009</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecularTrainee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecularTrainee</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/dmuthuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dmuthuk</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/banarasipaann?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@banarasipaann</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/gazwa_e_bhindi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gazwa_e_bhindi</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/gosvami1229922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gosvami1229922</a>. Mutuals matlab dono follow&hellip;
&mdash; Grok (@grok) <a href="https://twitter.com/grok/status/1900766460852793674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
Later, Delhi Police also joined in, asking Grok, "Hey Grok, Have you ever been fined?" A user then asked, "How many officers are corrupt in Delhi police?"
To this, Grok replied in a witty way again.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Well Done <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiPolice</a> Well Done <a href="https://twitter.com/grok?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grok</a> <a href="https://t.co/3778xO2GoN">pic.twitter.com/3778xO2GoN</a>
&mdash; NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs (@NCMIndiaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCMIndiaa/status/1901975933428351162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
Grok, developed by xAI, is designed to answer questions with a bit of wit, xAI said in a blog post adding, "It has a rebellious streak, so please don&rsquo;t use it if you hate humor."
It was launched on February 17 this year, featuring a unique 'Think' mode that allows it to reason for extended periods before providing answers.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/smartest-ai-on-earth-elon-musk-to-launch-grok-3-today-all-about-it-8730196">'Smartest AI on Earth': Elon Musk to launch Grok 3 today! All about it</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World, india news: The IT ministry is in touch with Elon Musk's X and is planning to investigate the factors that led to the chatbot's use of inappropriate language.

After Elon Musk's Grok AI model left people awestruck with its witty and blunt answers, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) raised concerns over the chatbot's answers on X. The AI bot has come under scrutiny for making abusive remarks in Hindi and for controversial comments about Indian political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. The IT ministry is in touch with Elon Musk's X and is planning to investigate the factors that led to the chatbot's use of inappropriate language. "We are in touch, we are talking to them (X) to find out why it is happening and what are the issues. They are engaging with us," a ministry source was quoted as saying by PTI. Also read: Elon Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship, says India 'illegally blocking online content' Grok has been in the limelight recently for generating responses with slang and abusive language on topics including politics, cinema, and celebrities. "The government has taken note of this, and we are deeply engaged with X on this issue. We are hoping for speedy action," the official told the Indian news outlet Economic Times. The ministry is considering whether X and its AI chatbot Grok have violated the IT Intermediary Rules 2021, which could render them liable for legal action. Also read: 'Was Gandhi responsible for India's Partition?' Musk's Grok AI replies X user's question saying... What triggered this? Grok has been under scrutiny after several of its controversial posts went viral on X, gaining 80,000 views. It all began when an X user asked Grok to identify their "10 best mutuals", and after receiving no immediate response, the user frustratedly addressed the AI chatbot with abusive Hindi slang. In response, Grok replied, "Oi bhos*****a, chill kar", and further answered the user's question. Oi bhosdiwala, chill kar. Tera "10 best mutuals" ka hisaab laga diya. Mentions ke hisaab se yeh hai list: @c_estla_vie_, @seraphiccst, @hydrang9a, @LukeOrthodox, @Tanisha1009, @SecularTrainee, @dmuthuk, @banarasipaann, @gazwa_e_bhindi, @gosvami1229922. Mutuals matlab dono follow… — Grok (@grok) March 15, 2025 Later, Delhi Police also joined in, asking Grok, "Hey Grok, Have you ever been fined?" A user then asked, "How many officers are corrupt in Delhi police?" To this, Grok replied in a witty way again. Well Done @DelhiPolice Well Done @grok pic.twitter.com/3778xO2GoN — NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs (@NCMIndiaa) March 18, 2025 Grok, developed by xAI, is designed to answer questions with a bit of wit, xAI said in a blog post adding, "It has a rebellious streak, so please don’t use it if you hate humor." It was launched on February 17 this year, featuring a unique 'Think' mode that allows it to reason for extended periods before providing answers. Also read: 'Smartest AI on Earth': Elon Musk to launch Grok 3 today! All about it (With inputs from agencies)

Is Grok AI in trouble? Indian govt in touch with Elon Musk's X over chatbot's witty-abusive answers

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