Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday (Feb 23) called news agency Reuters' report a lie. The reporting was about a possible shutdown of Starlink in Ukraine due to a dispute over mineral resources.&nbsp;
Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported that the US has threatened to cut Ukraine's access to Starlink if Kyiv doesn't agree to a critical minerals deal.&nbsp;
In a post on X, Musk called Reuters report "false", and also attacked The Associated Press, labelling it "Associated Propaganda".&nbsp;
He wrote, "This is false. Reuters is lying. They are second only to AP (Associated Propaganda) as legacy news liars."&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-the-puck-trudeau-in-an-apparent-dig-at-trump-celebrates-canadas-3-2-win-over-us-says-you-cant-take-our-country-8747866" rel="noopener" target="_blank">What the 'puck'? Trudeau, in an apparent dig at Trump, celebrates Canada's 3-2 win over US, says 'You can&rsquo;t take our country&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>
The sources told the news agency that Ukraine's continued access to Starlink was brought up in discussions between US and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned down an initial proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.&nbsp;
The issue was raised again when Keith Kellogg, the US special Ukraine envoy, and Zelensky met on Thursday.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stockholm-syndrome-israeli-hostage-seen-kissing-hamas-militants-on-head-after-release-watch-video-8747606" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Stockholm Syndrome? Israeli hostage seen kissing Hamas militants on head after release. Watch video&nbsp;</a>
Ukraine was told during the meeting that it faced imminent shutoff of the service if it did not reach a deal on critical minerals, said the source.&nbsp;
Starlink provides internet connectivity to Ukraine, which is crucial for the war-torn nation and its military. As quoted by Reuters, the source said, "Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star, Losing Starlink... would be a massive blow."&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-murdered-10-month-old-kfir-and-4-year-old-ariel-bibas-with-bare-hands-alleges-israel-family-says-yet-to-receive-official-info-8747053" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hamas murdered young hostages? Israel claims 'terrorists' killed 10-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas with 'bare hands'</a>&nbsp;
<h2>White House bars AP&nbsp;</h2>
Recently, the White House blocked an AP reporter from an event in the Oval Office after demanding the news agency alter its style on the Gulf of Mexico, which President Donald Trump has ordered to be renamed the Gulf of America.&nbsp;
When the AP reporter tried to enter the White House event the next day, he was turned away. Later, a second AP reporter was barred from a late-evening event in the White House's Diplomatic Reception Room.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bus-travelling-from-mata-vaishno-devi-to-delhi-skids-off-road-near-jammu-1-dead-16-injured-8747711" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bus travelling from Mata Vaishno Devi to Delhi skids off-road near Jammu; driver dead, 17 injured</a>
Julie Pace,&nbsp;who is AP's senior vice president and executive editor, had called the administration&rsquo;s move unacceptable. "It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism," Pace said&nbsp;in a statement.&nbsp;
"Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP's speech not only severely impedes the public&rsquo;s access to independent news, it plainly violates the First Amendment," Pace added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | The alleged threat was reportedly discussed between US and Ukrainian officials, highlighting Starlink's crucial role in Ukraine's connectivity and military operations.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday (Feb 23) called news agency Reuters' report a lie. The reporting was about a possible shutdown of Starlink in Ukraine due to a dispute over mineral resources. Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported that the US has threatened to cut Ukraine's access to Starlink if Kyiv doesn't agree to a critical minerals deal. In a post on X, Musk called Reuters report "false", and also attacked The Associated Press, labelling it "Associated Propaganda". He wrote, "This is false. Reuters is lying. They are second only to AP (Associated Propaganda) as legacy news liars." Also read: What the 'puck'? Trudeau, in an apparent dig at Trump, celebrates Canada's 3-2 win over US, says 'You can’t take our country The sources told the news agency that Ukraine's continued access to Starlink was brought up in discussions between US and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned down an initial proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The issue was raised again when Keith Kellogg, the US special Ukraine envoy, and Zelensky met on Thursday. Also read: Stockholm Syndrome? Israeli hostage seen kissing Hamas militants on head after release. Watch video Ukraine was told during the meeting that it faced imminent shutoff of the service if it did not reach a deal on critical minerals, said the source. Starlink provides internet connectivity to Ukraine, which is crucial for the war-torn nation and its military. As quoted by Reuters, the source said, "Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star, Losing Starlink... would be a massive blow." Also read: Hamas murdered young hostages? Israel claims 'terrorists' killed 10-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas with 'bare hands' White House bars AP Recently, the White House blocked an AP reporter from an event in the Oval Office after demanding the news agency alter its style on the Gulf of Mexico, which President Donald Trump has ordered to be renamed the Gulf of America. When the AP reporter tried to enter the White House event the next day, he was turned away. Later, a second AP reporter was barred from a late-evening event in the White House's Diplomatic Reception Room. Also read: Bus travelling from Mata Vaishno Devi to Delhi skids off-road near Jammu; driver dead, 17 injured Julie Pace, who is AP's senior vice president and executive editor, had called the administration’s move unacceptable. "It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism," Pace said in a statement. "Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP's speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, it plainly violates the First Amendment," Pace added. (With inputs from agencies)

'This is false': Elon Musk slams THIS news agency, denies threat to cut Starlink over Ukraine minerals deal

The Vatican on Saturday (Feb 22) said that Pope Francis' condition continues to be critical due to a respiratory attack.
In other news, billionaire Elon Musk said that all US federal employees must justify their work and failure to do so will be taken as their resignation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza truce following "humiliating ceremonies" when Israeli hostages were freed.
Meanwhile, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the Indian national anthem was played before the Australia-England Champions Trophy match started in Lahore.
Click on the headlines for more
Pope Francis in 'critical' condition after 'asthma-like respiratory crisis': Vatican
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/21/aNnJY0xFbqFLzu0ow3Z0.jpg" alt=" File photo: Pope Francis leads the Vespers and Te Deum prayer in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 31, 2024. Photograph: (Reuters) ">
The Vatican on Saturday (Feb 22) said that Pope Francis had a respiratory attack and his condition "continues to be critical". The treatment required "high-flow oxygen" and also blood transfusions.&nbsp;
Elon Musk says all US govt staff must justify their work or lose jobs
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/02/18/K1gQxuiqyYxkWCgj2kak.jpg" alt=" Elon Musk Photograph: (AFP) ">
Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to Donald Trump, said Saturday that all US federal employees must justify their work or lose their jobs, hours after the president pushed him to be "more aggressive" in slashing government spending.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu delays Palestinians' release after six Gaza hostages freed
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/02/23/ZukAyC32dAGGZbN9PfH6.png" alt=" A Palestinian unit of PLO Leader Yasser Arafat guards &quot;Force 17&quot; controls the entrance of the crowd, on May 3, 1995 during a rally in Gaza City commemorating the first anniversary of the Palestinian police's entry into Jericho and the Gaza Strip. Photograph: (AFP) ">
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that freeing Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire deal will be delayed until Hamas ends its "humiliating ceremonies" while releasing Israeli hostages.
Champions Trophy 2025: PCB demands ICC explanation after India's national anthem played before AUS-ENG match
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/02/22/WpYp7G3d9NTn9dnreb9z.png" alt=" Ben Duckett celebrates after scoring his century Photograph: (X (@ICC)) ">
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after India's national anthem was briefly played at the start of the Australia-England Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Saturday (Feb 22).
Watch | USAID funds went back to Bangladesh, not India: Reports
<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/2202_WION_USAID_FUND_8PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2202_WION_USAID_FUND_8PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=98&amp;tags=USAID funds went back to Bangladesh, not India: Reports" title="USAID funds went back to Bangladesh, not India: Reports" id="PL_iframe_block-m7h41s4p-i2yjfe4s-hcxf12rk"></iframe>

Start your morning with WION's news brief, providing a comprehensive snapshot of world events and top stories to ensure you're updated and ready for the day.

The Vatican on Saturday (Feb 22) said that Pope Francis' condition continues to be critical due to a respiratory attack. In other news, billionaire Elon Musk said that all US federal employees must justify their work and failure to do so will be taken as their resignation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza truce following "humiliating ceremonies" when Israeli hostages were freed. Meanwhile, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the Indian national anthem was played before the Australia-England Champions Trophy match started in Lahore. Click on the headlines for more Pope Francis in 'critical' condition after 'asthma-like respiratory crisis': Vatican The Vatican on Saturday (Feb 22) said that Pope Francis had a respiratory attack and his condition "continues to be critical". The treatment required "high-flow oxygen" and also blood transfusions. Elon Musk says all US govt staff must justify their work or lose jobs Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to Donald Trump, said Saturday that all US federal employees must justify their work or lose their jobs, hours after the president pushed him to be "more aggressive" in slashing government spending. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu delays Palestinians' release after six Gaza hostages freed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that freeing Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire deal will be delayed until Hamas ends its "humiliating ceremonies" while releasing Israeli hostages. Champions Trophy 2025: PCB demands ICC explanation after India's national anthem played before AUS-ENG match The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after India's national anthem was briefly played at the start of the Australia-England Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Saturday (Feb 22). Watch | USAID funds went back to Bangladesh, not India: Reports

Morning news brief: Pope's health update; Israel delays Palestinians' release, and more

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Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to Donald Trump, said Saturday that all US federal employees must justify their work or lose their jobs, hours after the president pushed him to be "more aggressive" in slashing government spending.
Musk -- the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor -- has led the effort to fire swaths of the government workforce.
"All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation," Musk wrote.
According to a copy of the email provided to AFP, federal workers were asked to submit "approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week."&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-the-puck-trudeau-in-an-apparent-dig-at-trump-celebrates-canadas-3-2-win-over-us-says-you-cant-take-our-country-8747866" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What the 'puck'? Trudeau, in an apparent dig at Trump, celebrates Canada's 3-2 win over US, says 'You can&rsquo;t take our country&nbsp;</a>
The email came from the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), with the subject line "What did you do last week?". The deadline to reply was 11:59 pm Monday, though the message did not say failure to do so would lead to termination.&nbsp;
The OPM did not immediately reply to AFP's request for comment on Saturday evening.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations in a statement from national president Everett Kelley.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-murdered-10-month-old-kfir-and-4-year-old-ariel-bibas-with-bare-hands-alleges-israel-family-says-yet-to-receive-official-info-8747053" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamas murdered young hostages? Israel claims 'terrorists' killed 10-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas with 'bare hands'</a>
Kelley slammed Musk and the Trump administration, saying the move showed "their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people."
"It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life," he said.&nbsp;
Several federal employees told AFP they were advised by their agencies not to respond to the email and wait for further instruction, a recommendation echoed by the National Treasury Employees Union.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stockholm-syndrome-israeli-hostage-seen-kissing-hamas-militants-on-head-after-release-watch-video-8747606" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stockholm Syndrome? Israeli hostage seen kissing Hamas militants on head after release. Watch video&nbsp;</a>
<h2>'More aggressive'&nbsp;</h2>
Earlier Saturday, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that Musk was "doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive."
"Remember, we have a country to save," the Republican leader added.
Trump has put the tech entrepreneur in charge of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory body, tasking him with slashing public spending and tackling alleged waste and corruption.
In the latest cuts announced Friday, the US Defense Department is to reduce its civilian workforce by at least five percent starting next week.
Trump's administration has already begun firing many other federal workers who are on probationary status.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bus-travelling-from-mata-vaishno-devi-to-delhi-skids-off-road-near-jammu-1-dead-16-injured-8747711" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bus travelling from Mata Vaishno Devi to Delhi skids off-road near Jammu; driver dead, 17 injured</a>&nbsp;
DOGE is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, though its cost-cutting spree has been met with pushback on several fronts and mixed court rulings.
A judge on Thursday denied a union bid to temporarily halt the firing of thousands of people.
Musk said this week he would work with Trump for as long as he "can be helpful," as the pair dismissed concerns over conflicts of interest due to the tycoon's government contracts.
"Elon is doing a great job," Trump told a meeting of conservative activists on Saturday, running through a list of what he said were "some of the flagrant scams" that had been uncovered.
"We love Elon, don't we? He's a character," Trump added. "People said, what official position does he have? I said, 'Patriot'."
Musk said this week DOGE was publicizing its actions on its website and that the transparency would hold him accountable.
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World | Federal employees receive an email asking for a summary of weekly accomplishments, raising concerns from unions about potential unlawful terminations and job security.

Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to Donald Trump, said Saturday that all US federal employees must justify their work or lose their jobs, hours after the president pushed him to be "more aggressive" in slashing government spending. Musk -- the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor -- has led the effort to fire swaths of the government workforce. "All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation," Musk wrote. According to a copy of the email provided to AFP, federal workers were asked to submit "approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week." Also read: What the 'puck'? Trudeau, in an apparent dig at Trump, celebrates Canada's 3-2 win over US, says 'You can’t take our country The email came from the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), with the subject line "What did you do last week?". The deadline to reply was 11:59 pm Monday, though the message did not say failure to do so would lead to termination. The OPM did not immediately reply to AFP's request for comment on Saturday evening. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations in a statement from national president Everett Kelley. Also read: Hamas murdered young hostages? Israel claims 'terrorists' killed 10-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas with 'bare hands' Kelley slammed Musk and the Trump administration, saying the move showed "their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people." "It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life," he said. Several federal employees told AFP they were advised by their agencies not to respond to the email and wait for further instruction, a recommendation echoed by the National Treasury Employees Union. Also read: Stockholm Syndrome? Israeli hostage seen kissing Hamas militants on head after release. Watch video 'More aggressive' Earlier Saturday, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that Musk was "doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive." "Remember, we have a country to save," the Republican leader added. Trump has put the tech entrepreneur in charge of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory body, tasking him with slashing public spending and tackling alleged waste and corruption. In the latest cuts announced Friday, the US Defense Department is to reduce its civilian workforce by at least five percent starting next week. Trump's administration has already begun firing many other federal workers who are on probationary status. Also read: Bus travelling from Mata Vaishno Devi to Delhi skids off-road near Jammu; driver dead, 17 injured DOGE is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, though its cost-cutting spree has been met with pushback on several fronts and mixed court rulings. A judge on Thursday denied a union bid to temporarily halt the firing of thousands of people. Musk said this week he would work with Trump for as long as he "can be helpful," as the pair dismissed concerns over conflicts of interest due to the tycoon's government contracts. "Elon is doing a great job," Trump told a meeting of conservative activists on Saturday, running through a list of what he said were "some of the flagrant scams" that had been uncovered. "We love Elon, don't we? He's a character," Trump added. "People said, what official position does he have? I said, 'Patriot'." Musk said this week DOGE was publicizing its actions on its website and that the transparency would hold him accountable.

Elon Musk says all US govt staff must justify their work or lose jobs

US has been pressuring Kyiv to grant American firms access to Ukraine&rsquo;s rare earth mineral reserves, even raising the possibility of cutting off Elon Musk&rsquo;s Starlink satellite internet service, news agency Reuters reported.
Starlink, owned by Musk&rsquo;s SpaceX, is a vital communications tool for Ukraine, particularly its military operations.
The sources told Reuters that the issue was first raised after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's initial proposal.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-dismisses-ukranian-president-zelensky-ukraine-peace-talks-russia-ukraine-war-vladimir-putin-8744952" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;He's not important&rsquo;: Trump dismisses Zelensky&rsquo;s role in Ukraine talks, says war wasn&rsquo;t &lsquo;Russia&rsquo;s&nbsp;fault&rsquo;</a>
<h2>US officials warned of &lsquo;imminent shutoff&rsquo;</h2>
According to a source familiar with the talks, the matter resurfaced during discussions on Thursday (Feb 20) between US special envoy Keith Kellogg and Zelensky. Ukraine was allegedly warned that Starlink access could be cut off if it did not agree to a mineral deal.
"Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star. Losing Starlink ... would be a massive blow," one source said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-zelensky-will-sign-minerals-deal-soon-after-rejection-why-does-trump-want-ukraines-rare-earths-8744807" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">US says Zelensky will sign minerals deal 'soon' after rejection: Why does Trump want Ukraine's&nbsp;'rare&nbsp;earths'?</a>
<h2>Zelensky rejects US demand for $500 billion in minerals</h2>
The Trump administration reportedly sought $500 billion worth of Ukraine&rsquo;s mineral wealth as repayment for US aid. However, Zelensky refused, citing a lack of security guarantees.
The US proposal would have given Washington and American companies control over 50% of Ukraine&rsquo;s critical minerals, including graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium, key resources for electric vehicle batteries and defence applications.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/extensive-and-productive-us-envoy-kellogg-praises-talks-with-courageous-leader-zelensky-8744537">'Extensive and productive': US envoy Kellogg praises talks with 'courageous leader' Zelensky</a>
<h2>Growing rift between Trump and Zelensky</h2>
The mineral dispute has deepened tensions between Trump and Zelensky. On Wednesday, Trump called the Ukrainian leader &ldquo;a dictator without elections&rdquo; after Zelensky suggested Trump was influenced by Russian disinformation after US President claimed that Ukraine had started the war.
Despite the earlier rejection, the White House announced on Friday (Feb 21) that Ukraine would soon sign an agreement granting the US access to its mineral resources.
&ldquo;Look, here&rsquo;s the bottom line: President Zelensky is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term. And that is good for Ukraine,&rdquo; Trump&rsquo;s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-ukraines-zelensky-really-a-dictator-without-elections-trumps-claim-vs-the-reality-of-wartime-voting-8744345">Is Ukraine's Zelensky really a 'dictator without elections'? Trump&rsquo;s claim vs. the reality of wartime voting</a>
<h2>Starlink&rsquo;s role in Ukraine&rsquo;s defence</h2>
Since Russia&rsquo;s invasion in February 2022, Musk has supplied thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine, ensuring military and civilian communication remains operational despite Russian attacks on infrastructure.
&ldquo;Losing Starlink would be a game changer,&rdquo; Melinda Haring, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council told Reuters, pointing out that Ukraine has reached a 1:1 parity with Russia in drone and artillery usage. 
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Musk has supplied thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine, ensuring military and civilian communication remains operational despite Russian attacks on infrastructure.

US has been pressuring Kyiv to grant American firms access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral reserves, even raising the possibility of cutting off Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, news agency Reuters reported. Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, is a vital communications tool for Ukraine, particularly its military operations. The sources told Reuters that the issue was first raised after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's initial proposal. Also read: ‘He's not important’: Trump dismisses Zelensky’s role in Ukraine talks, says war wasn’t ‘Russia’s fault’ US officials warned of ‘imminent shutoff’ According to a source familiar with the talks, the matter resurfaced during discussions on Thursday (Feb 20) between US special envoy Keith Kellogg and Zelensky. Ukraine was allegedly warned that Starlink access could be cut off if it did not agree to a mineral deal. "Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star. Losing Starlink ... would be a massive blow," one source said. Also read: US says Zelensky will sign minerals deal 'soon' after rejection: Why does Trump want Ukraine's 'rare earths'? Zelensky rejects US demand for $500 billion in minerals The Trump administration reportedly sought $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s mineral wealth as repayment for US aid. However, Zelensky refused, citing a lack of security guarantees. The US proposal would have given Washington and American companies control over 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals, including graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium, key resources for electric vehicle batteries and defence applications. Also read: 'Extensive and productive': US envoy Kellogg praises talks with 'courageous leader' Zelensky Growing rift between Trump and Zelensky The mineral dispute has deepened tensions between Trump and Zelensky. On Wednesday, Trump called the Ukrainian leader “a dictator without elections” after Zelensky suggested Trump was influenced by Russian disinformation after US President claimed that Ukraine had started the war. Despite the earlier rejection, the White House announced on Friday (Feb 21) that Ukraine would soon sign an agreement granting the US access to its mineral resources. “Look, here’s the bottom line: President Zelensky is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term. And that is good for Ukraine,” Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Also read: Is Ukraine's Zelensky really a 'dictator without elections'? Trump’s claim vs. the reality of wartime voting Starlink’s role in Ukraine’s defence Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Musk has supplied thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine, ensuring military and civilian communication remains operational despite Russian attacks on infrastructure. “Losing Starlink would be a game changer,” Melinda Haring, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council told Reuters, pointing out that Ukraine has reached a 1:1 parity with Russia in drone and artillery usage. (With inputs from agencies)

'No minerals, no internet': US may cut Ukraine’s access to Musk's Starlink over rare earth deal

The US is undergoing a change as thousands of federal workers are fired, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands. At the center of this so-called cleanup is an effort aimed at saving trillions of American taxpayer dollars, with Elon Musk playing a significant role. Democrats are now launching a probe into Musk’s role in the White House. Our next story takes a look at one month of Musk Mania, as some like to call it.

The world’s richest person is tearing down Washington’s centuries-old institutions, with the chainsaw-wielding billionaire acting as Trump’s right hand. America’s government faces its most radical transformation yet. Watch in for more details!

How Elon Musk gained so much power in the Trump administration?

Elon Musk, the billionaire leading deep spending cuts in the US federal government, took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday with an unusual prop&mdash;a chainsaw.
&ldquo;This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,&rdquo; Musk declared, lifting the power tool over his head.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/national-layoff-trump-and-elon-musk-fire-over-20000-employees-from-us-federal-workforce-check-out-the-full-list-8742592" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'National layoff': Trump and Elon Musk fire over 20,000 employees from US federal workforce! Check out the full list</a>
The gift came from&nbsp;Argentina&rsquo;s libertarian President Javier Milei, who met Musk earlier in the day. The red metallic chainsaw was engraved with Milei&rsquo;s signature slogan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Viva la libertad, carajo&rdquo; which roughly translates to &ldquo;Long live freedom, damn it!&rdquo;
<h2>Musk slams Biden&rsquo;s immigration policies</h2>
During his speech, Musk criticised the previous Biden administration&rsquo;s handling of immigration. He singled out an app that allowed nearly 1 million migrants to enter the US on two-year permits with work eligibility.
&ldquo;A lot of people don&rsquo;t quite appreciate that this was an actual real scam at scale to tilt the scales of democracy in America,&rdquo; Musk said.
When Newsmax host Rob Schmitt asked him, &ldquo;Treason?&rdquo; Musk replied, &ldquo;Treason.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-dress-in-t-shirts-trump-mocks-genius-doge-staffers-who-dress-worse-than-elon-musk-8736789" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;They dress in T-shirts&rsquo;: Trump mocks &lsquo;genius&rsquo; DOGE staffers who dress &lsquo;worse than Elon Musk&rsquo;</a>
<h2>Musk open to auditing the Federal Reserve</h2>
Schmitt also asked Musk if he would consider auditing the Federal Reserve.
&ldquo;Yeah, sure, while we&rsquo;re at it,&rdquo; Musk responded, adding, &ldquo;Waste is pretty much everywhere.&rdquo;
Thousands of government jobs cut under Musk&rsquo;s oversight
As part of Trump&rsquo;s cost-cutting measures, Musk has been overseeing massive job cuts across government agencies. His efforts have impacted bank regulators, environmental workers, aerospace scientists, and many others.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-releases-video-of-shackled-deportees-elon-musks-reaction-sparks-condemnation-8736268" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation</a>
On Thursday, around 6,000 employees at the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were reportedly notified of their termination, according to a source familiar with the matter.
<h2>Social media reacts to Musk&rsquo;s chainsaw stunt</h2>
Musk&rsquo;s display at CPAC triggered a wave of reactions online. Some praised him, while others criticised him harshly.
One user wrote, "Elon Musk thinks that firing thousands of people, including veterans, military spouses, people with kids, is like playing a video game where he gets to take a chainsaw to their lives. So fun, amirite? He truly sucks at being human."
Another posted, "Elon Musk waves around a chainsaw at CPAC while Argentinian president Javier Milei gives the thumbs up. These people are cringe AF and utterly unglued."
Meanwhile, Musk&rsquo;s supporters cheered him on.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swiss-lawmaker-meret-schneider-receives-death-threat-for-criticising-elon-musks-x-heres-what-all-she-said-8736596" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Swiss lawmaker Meret Schneider receives death threat for criticising Elon Musk's X - Here's what all she said</a>
"Incredible. Javier Milei brought Elon Musk a DOGE chainsaw. The perfect gift to inspire the cutting of even more waste, fraud, and abuse," one user said.
Another added, "LMAOO. Javier Milei just gave Elon Musk a DOGE chainsaw. This is FIRE."
(With inputs from agencies)

World: “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” Musk declared, lifting the power tool over his head. The gift came from Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei, who met Musk earlier in the day.

Elon Musk, the billionaire leading deep spending cuts in the US federal government, took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday with an unusual prop—a chainsaw. “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” Musk declared, lifting the power tool over his head. Also read: 'National layoff': Trump and Elon Musk fire over 20,000 employees from US federal workforce! Check out the full list The gift came from Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei, who met Musk earlier in the day. The red metallic chainsaw was engraved with Milei’s signature slogan. “Viva la libertad, carajo” which roughly translates to “Long live freedom, damn it!” Musk slams Biden’s immigration policies During his speech, Musk criticised the previous Biden administration’s handling of immigration. He singled out an app that allowed nearly 1 million migrants to enter the US on two-year permits with work eligibility. “A lot of people don’t quite appreciate that this was an actual real scam at scale to tilt the scales of democracy in America,” Musk said. When Newsmax host Rob Schmitt asked him, “Treason?” Musk replied, “Treason.” Also read: ‘They dress in T-shirts’: Trump mocks ‘genius’ DOGE staffers who dress ‘worse than Elon Musk’ Musk open to auditing the Federal Reserve Schmitt also asked Musk if he would consider auditing the Federal Reserve. “Yeah, sure, while we’re at it,” Musk responded, adding, “Waste is pretty much everywhere.” Thousands of government jobs cut under Musk’s oversight As part of Trump’s cost-cutting measures, Musk has been overseeing massive job cuts across government agencies. His efforts have impacted bank regulators, environmental workers, aerospace scientists, and many others. Also read: White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation On Thursday, around 6,000 employees at the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were reportedly notified of their termination, according to a source familiar with the matter. Social media reacts to Musk’s chainsaw stunt Musk’s display at CPAC triggered a wave of reactions online. Some praised him, while others criticised him harshly. One user wrote, "Elon Musk thinks that firing thousands of people, including veterans, military spouses, people with kids, is like playing a video game where he gets to take a chainsaw to their lives. So fun, amirite? He truly sucks at being human." Another posted, "Elon Musk waves around a chainsaw at CPAC while Argentinian president Javier Milei gives the thumbs up. These people are cringe AF and utterly unglued." Meanwhile, Musk’s supporters cheered him on. Also read: Swiss lawmaker Meret Schneider receives death threat for criticising Elon Musk's X - Here's what all she said "Incredible. Javier Milei brought Elon Musk a DOGE chainsaw. The perfect gift to inspire the cutting of even more waste, fraud, and abuse," one user said. Another added, "LMAOO. Javier Milei just gave Elon Musk a DOGE chainsaw. This is FIRE." (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk’s ‘chainsaw for bureaucracy’ stunt: ‘Cringe AF’ or ‘fire’? Internet divided

Elon Musk's month as Trump’s closest ally – a deep dive

In January, Meta announced that the company would be replacing its third-party fact-checking program with Community Notes, similar to the model used by Elon Musk’s social media platform X. Now, it seems Musk himself is reversing his stance on Community Notes. In a post on X, Elon Musk stated that he plans to fix X's Community Notes feature after alleging that it was being manipulated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Musk vows to fix 'X' after polls show high support for Zelensky

He did this while kids were dying’ said Musk day after Trump slammed ‘dictator’ Zelensky. Musk questioned Zelensky's Vogue Photoshoot's timing which coincided with Russia-Ukraine war. Photoshoot was done to underline resilience of Ukrainians who were at war with Russia. Watch to know more!

Zelensky’s Old Vogue Photoshoot With Wife Triggers Strong Criticism From Elon Musk

Elon Musk's former partner and Canadian singer Grimes has publicly slammed the father of her three children, saying that he has not been answering her calls while one of her kids has been struggling with a mysterious "medical crisis".
In a now-deleted post on the social media platform X, owned by Musk, Grimes wrote, "Plz respond about our child's medical crisis. I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation. This requires immediate attention. If you don&rsquo;t want to talk to me can you please designate or hire someone who can do that we can move forward on solving this. This is urgent, Elon.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-50000-employees-of-us-defense-department-could-be-laid-off-in-trump-musk-efforts-to-cut-federal-cost-report-8741987">Over 50,000 employees of US defense department could be laid off in Trump-Musk efforts to cut federal cost: Report</a>
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not giving any details but he won&rsquo;t respond to texts call or emails and has skipped every meeting and our child will suffer life long impairment if he doesn&rsquo;t respond asap, so I need him to f&ndash;king respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that&rsquo;s where we are at,&rdquo; she further added.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7efwoxu-w90w6wvx-wjebeuw7">
grimes is deleting her tweets now, but this can't be scrubbed from the internet. people need to be aware what kind of person <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> truly is. how can u make excuses for this? please try, go ahead, I'll wait <a href="https://t.co/fYkKBuQtXc">pic.twitter.com/fYkKBuQtXc</a>
&mdash; tara (@weirdotara) <a href="https://twitter.com/weirdotara/status/1892707876197576741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
She deleted the posts just two hours later due to being shadow-banned. She put up another post before deleting the previous ones in which she said, "I am deleting them now because if they're being shadow banned and not eliciting a response then all it is a media crisis at the expense of the kids."&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7efx4h6-e7z9tdhj-n8d2b22b">
I am deleting them now because if they're being shadow banned and not eliciting a response then all it is is a media circus at the expense of the kids.
&mdash; 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗌 ⏳ (@Grimezsz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Grimezsz/status/1892717802219315485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-biden-leave-nasa-astronauts-in-space-for-political-reasons-musk-trump-claim-in-joint-interview-8737043">Did Biden leave NASA astronauts in space for 'political reasons'? Musk, Trump claim in joint interview</a>
Grimes and Musk share three kids together - X &AElig; A-Xii, 4, Techno Mechanicus, 2, and daughter Exa Dark Sider&aelig;l, 3.
The latest conflict came days after Grimes expressed her objection to taking their 4-year-old son X to a press briefing in the White House on February 11.
"He should not be in public like this. I did not see this, thank u for alerting me. But I&rsquo;m glad he was polite. Sigh," Grimes said.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-dress-in-t-shirts-trump-mocks-genius-doge-staffers-who-dress-worse-than-elon-musk-8736789">&lsquo;They dress in T-shirts&rsquo;: Trump mocks &lsquo;genius&rsquo; DOGE staffers who dress &lsquo;worse than Elon Musk&rsquo;</a>
<h2>Musk has a 13th child?&nbsp;</h2>
The latest allegation by Grimes came after an influencer Ashley St Clair claimed on February 14 that she is the mother of Musk's 13th child.
&ldquo;Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father,&rdquo; she wrote.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-releases-video-of-shackled-deportees-elon-musks-reaction-sparks-condemnation-8736268">White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation</a>
&ldquo;I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child&rsquo;s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause," she added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

WORLD | TRENDING | In a now-deleted post on the social media platform X, owned by Musk, Grimes wrote, "Plz respond about our child's medical crisis. I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation."

Elon Musk's former partner and Canadian singer Grimes has publicly slammed the father of her three children, saying that he has not been answering her calls while one of her kids has been struggling with a mysterious "medical crisis". In a now-deleted post on the social media platform X, owned by Musk, Grimes wrote, "Plz respond about our child's medical crisis. I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation. This requires immediate attention. If you don’t want to talk to me can you please designate or hire someone who can do that we can move forward on solving this. This is urgent, Elon.” Also read: Over 50,000 employees of US defense department could be laid off in Trump-Musk efforts to cut federal cost: Report “I’m not giving any details but he won’t respond to texts call or emails and has skipped every meeting and our child will suffer life long impairment if he doesn’t respond asap, so I need him to f–king respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that’s where we are at,” she further added. grimes is deleting her tweets now, but this can't be scrubbed from the internet. people need to be aware what kind of person @elonmusk truly is. how can u make excuses for this? please try, go ahead, I'll wait pic.twitter.com/fYkKBuQtXc — tara (@weirdotara) February 20, 2025 She deleted the posts just two hours later due to being shadow-banned. She put up another post before deleting the previous ones in which she said, "I am deleting them now because if they're being shadow banned and not eliciting a response then all it is a media crisis at the expense of the kids." I am deleting them now because if they're being shadow banned and not eliciting a response then all it is is a media circus at the expense of the kids. — 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗌 ⏳ (@Grimezsz) February 20, 2025 Also read: Did Biden leave NASA astronauts in space for 'political reasons'? Musk, Trump claim in joint interview Grimes and Musk share three kids together - X Æ A-Xii, 4, Techno Mechanicus, 2, and daughter Exa Dark Sideræl, 3. The latest conflict came days after Grimes expressed her objection to taking their 4-year-old son X to a press briefing in the White House on February 11. "He should not be in public like this. I did not see this, thank u for alerting me. But I’m glad he was polite. Sigh," Grimes said. Also read: ‘They dress in T-shirts’: Trump mocks ‘genius’ DOGE staffers who dress ‘worse than Elon Musk’ Musk has a 13th child? The latest allegation by Grimes came after an influencer Ashley St Clair claimed on February 14 that she is the mother of Musk's 13th child. “Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father,” she wrote. Also read: White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation “I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Grimes claims Musk ignoring her calls while one of her children battles a 'medical crisis'

Donald Trump is irked by Elon Musk’s plans to build a Tesla factory in India, a disappointment that comes just days after the company began hiring staff in the country. This move signals growing anticipation for Tesla's potential entry into the Indian market. Trump stated that the potential plans for the electric vehicle maker to establish a factory in India would be "very unfair" to the United States. He made these remarks during a joint interview with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Rift between Musk and Trump? President says unfair to US if Tesla enters India | WION Originals

US President Donald Trump expressed concerns about Elon Musk's plans to set up a Tesla manufacturing facility in India, calling it "unfair" to the US. Trump's concerns stem from existing trade disparities and India's high import duties on American-made vehicles.
The comment, made during Trump and Musk&rsquo;s interview with Fox News presenter Sean Hannity, comes days after the Tesla CEO met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latter&rsquo;s visit to the US.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indians-among-300-us-deportees-plead-for-help-from-panama-hotel-windows-not-safe-in-our-country-8738257">Indians among 300 US deportees held in Panama hotel, some migrants seen pleading for help from window</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">India a "tariff king"</h2>
Donald Trump has once again claimed that India imposes high tariffs, a statement that was echoed by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla. This isn't the first time Trump has made this assertion, having previously described India as a "tariff king" that charges "tremendously high" tariffs on US products.&nbsp;
The interview was recorded earlier but broadcast on Wednesday (Feb 19).
Reiterating his claim that &ldquo;every country&rdquo; took advantage of the US with tariffs, Trump began by citing the example of tariffs on cars in India.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morning-news-brief-starmer-backs-zelensky-against-trumps-dictator-claims-rekha-gupta-to-be-sworn-in-as-delhi-cm-and-more-8738357">Morning news brief: Starmer backs Zelensky against Trump's 'dictator' claims; Rekha Gupta to be sworn in as Delhi CM and more</a>
Trump said It&rsquo;s impossible for Musk to sell cars, practically in India. "I don&rsquo;t know if that&rsquo;s true or not, but I think&hellip;&rdquo; said Trump, and Musk completed his sentence by mentioning, &ldquo;The tariffs are like 100% import duty.&rdquo; This highlights the significant trade barriers that Tesla faces in the Indian market.
<h2 dir="ltr">&ldquo;Unfair&rdquo; to the US</h2>
The import duty on electric vehicles that cost at least $35,000 is 15 per cent in India, subject to conditions.
Trump added that if Musk wanted to build a factory in India, that was &ldquo;okay&rdquo; but also &ldquo;unfair&rdquo; to the US. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s unfair to us. It&rsquo;s very unfair,&rdquo; he said.
Trump added, &ldquo;I told Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi&hellip; Here&rsquo;s what you do. We are going to&hellip; be very fair with you.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-dead-as-small-single-engine-planes-collide-mid-air-at-arizona-airport-8738189">Two dead as small single-engine planes collide mid-air at Arizona airport</a>
Trump was cut off mid-sentence when asked if India's tariffs were 36 per cent, to which he responded that they were "much, much higher." 
Musk chimed in, revealing that the tariffs on auto imports were actually a staggering 100 per cent.
Musk has also agreed with Trump and said &ldquo;It needs to be at a level playing field and fair and square.&rdquo; 
Trump then claimed that the US would now &ldquo;make a lot of money&rdquo; and &ldquo;a lot of businesses&rdquo; would come pouring in.
Tesla, led by Musk, has taken significant steps towards establishing a presence in India, having already identified locations for showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai, and posted job openings for 13 mid-level positions in the country, Reuters reported.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: US President Donald Trump criticises Elon Musk's Tesla plans in India, citing concerns over trade disparities and the impact of India's high import duties on US vehicles.

US President Donald Trump expressed concerns about Elon Musk's plans to set up a Tesla manufacturing facility in India, calling it "unfair" to the US. Trump's concerns stem from existing trade disparities and India's high import duties on American-made vehicles. The comment, made during Trump and Musk’s interview with Fox News presenter Sean Hannity, comes days after the Tesla CEO met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latter’s visit to the US. Also read | Indians among 300 US deportees held in Panama hotel, some migrants seen pleading for help from window India a "tariff king" Donald Trump has once again claimed that India imposes high tariffs, a statement that was echoed by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla. This isn't the first time Trump has made this assertion, having previously described India as a "tariff king" that charges "tremendously high" tariffs on US products. The interview was recorded earlier but broadcast on Wednesday (Feb 19). Reiterating his claim that “every country” took advantage of the US with tariffs, Trump began by citing the example of tariffs on cars in India. Also read | Morning news brief: Starmer backs Zelensky against Trump's 'dictator' claims; Rekha Gupta to be sworn in as Delhi CM and more Trump said It’s impossible for Musk to sell cars, practically in India. "I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I think…” said Trump, and Musk completed his sentence by mentioning, “The tariffs are like 100% import duty.” This highlights the significant trade barriers that Tesla faces in the Indian market. “Unfair” to the US The import duty on electric vehicles that cost at least $35,000 is 15 per cent in India, subject to conditions. Trump added that if Musk wanted to build a factory in India, that was “okay” but also “unfair” to the US. “That’s unfair to us. It’s very unfair,” he said. Trump added, “I told Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi… Here’s what you do. We are going to… be very fair with you.” Also read | Two dead as small single-engine planes collide mid-air at Arizona airport Trump was cut off mid-sentence when asked if India's tariffs were 36 per cent, to which he responded that they were "much, much higher." Musk chimed in, revealing that the tariffs on auto imports were actually a staggering 100 per cent. Musk has also agreed with Trump and said “It needs to be at a level playing field and fair and square.” Trump then claimed that the US would now “make a lot of money” and “a lot of businesses” would come pouring in. Tesla, led by Musk, has taken significant steps towards establishing a presence in India, having already identified locations for showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai, and posted job openings for 13 mid-level positions in the country, Reuters reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump criticises Tesla's plans to set up factory in India as 'unfair' to US amid trade disparities

Elon Musk claimed that the two US astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, were left stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) by the former US President Joe Biden administration.&nbsp;
Trump, while speaking at an exclusive interview with Fox News, said Joe Biden was going to leave stranded NASA astronauts, including Williams, in space, to which Musk quickly added that the reason was "political".&nbsp;
&ldquo;At the President&rsquo;s request, or instruction, we are accelerating the return of the astronauts, which was postponed, kind of, to a ridiculous degree," Elon Musk said on being asked about the return of the two astronauts.
&ldquo;They got left in space," Trump added to Musk.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-dress-in-t-shirts-trump-mocks-genius-doge-staffers-who-dress-worse-than-elon-musk-8736789">&lsquo;They dress in T-shirts&rsquo;: Trump mocks &lsquo;genius&rsquo; DOGE staffers who dress &lsquo;worse than Elon Musk&rsquo;</a>
Musk further said, "They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good."
When asked about SpaceX's mission to bring back Williams and Wilmore, Musk said, "We don&rsquo;t want to be complacent, but we have brought astronauts back from the space station many times before, and always with success."&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s about &ndash; about four weeks to bring them back," he added, upon being questioned about the timeline of the mission to bring them back.
&ldquo;You now have the go-ahead," Trump said, to which Musk responded, &ldquo;Yes. Well, thanks to you."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-releases-video-of-shackled-deportees-elon-musks-reaction-sparks-condemnation-8736268">White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation</a>
The US president further claimed that Musk's company did not have the go-ahead with the Biden administration.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He (Biden) was going to leave him in space. I think he was going to leave them in space, can you believe it?" Trump said.&nbsp;
<h2>Astronauts say 'not abandoned'</h2>
The two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore, have been stranded in low-Earth orbit since June.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-court-refuses-to-block-elon-musk-doge-from-accessing-data-firing-workers-8735259">US Court refuses to block Elon Musk, DOGE from accessing data, firing workers</a>
In January, slamming Joe Biden, Trump and Musk claimed that the two astronauts were left high and dry by the previous administration. To which the astronauts said that they &ldquo;were not stranded, nor have been abandoned" at the ISS.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s been the rhetoric. That&rsquo;s been the narrative from day one: stranded, abandoned, stuck&mdash;and I get it. We both get it," Wilmore said.
&ldquo;But that is, again, not what our human spaceflight programme is about. We don&rsquo;t feel abandoned, we don&rsquo;t feel stuck, we don&rsquo;t feel stranded."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/musk-trump-bromance-shines-in-joint-interview-as-doge-chief-calls-himself-tech-support-for-us-president-8734740">Musk-Trump 'bromance' shines in joint interview as DOGE chief calls himself 'tech support' for US prez</a>
Wilmore added a request: &ldquo;If you&rsquo;ll help us change the rhetoric, help us change the narrative. Let&rsquo;s change it to &lsquo;prepared and committed.&rsquo; That&rsquo;s what we prefer," Wilmore said.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Speaking at an exclusive interview with Fox News, Trump said Biden was going to leave stranded NASA astronauts in space. Musk added that the reason was "political".

Elon Musk claimed that the two US astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, were left stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) by the former US President Joe Biden administration. Trump, while speaking at an exclusive interview with Fox News, said Joe Biden was going to leave stranded NASA astronauts, including Williams, in space, to which Musk quickly added that the reason was "political". “At the President’s request, or instruction, we are accelerating the return of the astronauts, which was postponed, kind of, to a ridiculous degree," Elon Musk said on being asked about the return of the two astronauts. “They got left in space," Trump added to Musk. Also read: ‘They dress in T-shirts’: Trump mocks ‘genius’ DOGE staffers who dress ‘worse than Elon Musk’ Musk further said, "They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good." When asked about SpaceX's mission to bring back Williams and Wilmore, Musk said, "We don’t want to be complacent, but we have brought astronauts back from the space station many times before, and always with success." “I think it’s about – about four weeks to bring them back," he added, upon being questioned about the timeline of the mission to bring them back. “You now have the go-ahead," Trump said, to which Musk responded, “Yes. Well, thanks to you." Also read: White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation The US president further claimed that Musk's company did not have the go-ahead with the Biden administration. “He (Biden) was going to leave him in space. I think he was going to leave them in space, can you believe it?" Trump said. Astronauts say 'not abandoned' The two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore, have been stranded in low-Earth orbit since June. Also read: US Court refuses to block Elon Musk, DOGE from accessing data, firing workers In January, slamming Joe Biden, Trump and Musk claimed that the two astronauts were left high and dry by the previous administration. To which the astronauts said that they “were not stranded, nor have been abandoned" at the ISS. “That’s been the rhetoric. That’s been the narrative from day one: stranded, abandoned, stuck—and I get it. We both get it," Wilmore said. “But that is, again, not what our human spaceflight programme is about. We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded." Also read: Musk-Trump 'bromance' shines in joint interview as DOGE chief calls himself 'tech support' for US prez Wilmore added a request: “If you’ll help us change the rhetoric, help us change the narrative. Let’s change it to ‘prepared and committed.’ That’s what we prefer," Wilmore said. (With inputs from agencies)

Did Biden leave NASA astronauts in space for 'political reasons'? Musk, Trump claim in joint interview

During a Fox News interview on Tuesday (Feb 18), Donald Trump poked fun at the way young staffers in his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dress.
The former president was speaking with Elon Musk and host Sean Hannity when the topic turned to executive orders and their implementation.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/absolutely-bewildered-alleged-victims-slam-trump-administration-for-interference-in-andrew-tate-case-8736643" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Absolutely bewildered': Alleged victims slam Trump administration for &lsquo;interference&rsquo; in Andrew Tate case</a>
Trump recalled a conversation with Musk about how executive orders are often slow to take effect. &ldquo;This is probably true for all presidents: you write an executive order and you think it&rsquo;s done. You send it out. [But] it doesn&rsquo;t get implemented. Maybe they&rsquo;re from the last administration, and they are in some cases. You try to get them out as fast as you can,&rdquo; Trump said, citing Musk&rsquo;s comments.
&rdquo;As soon as he said that, I said, you know, that&rsquo;s interesting," Trump said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-slams-trump-for-living-in-disinformation-bubble-after-false-claim-on-approval-rating-8736468" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Unfortunate': Zelensky slams Trump for living in &lsquo;disinformation bubble&rsquo; after false claim on approval rating</a>
Trump then praised Musk&rsquo;s team, calling them &ldquo;geniuses&rdquo; before veering off course. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;They dress in T-shirts. You wouldn&rsquo;t know they have a 180 IQ,&rdquo; he added
Musk himself was wearing a T-shirt under his jacket and took a moment to show what was written on it. &ldquo;My T-shirt says &lsquo;TECH SUPPORT. Because I&rsquo;m here to provide the president with technology support,&rdquo; he said, prompting laughter from Trump.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7bx2l3z-b8wdcfbo-cmuqro0r">
<a href="https://t.co/s3bTYzTemS">pic.twitter.com/s3bTYzTemS</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1890288333370323327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-and-trump-could-meet-before-end-of-february-says-kremlin-report-8736169" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Putin and Trump could meet before end of February, says Kremlin: Report</a>
The interview largely showcased a friendly dynamic between the two. Musk showed strong support for Trump, declaring, &ldquo;I love the president.&rdquo;&nbsp;
He went on to say, &ldquo;I have spent a lot of time with the president, and not once have I seen him do something that was mean or cruel or wrong. Not once.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-reflects-on-reciprocal-tariff-talks-with-pm-modi-nobody-can-argue-with-me-8735547" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump reflects on reciprocal tariff talks with PM Modi; 'Nobody can argue with me'</a>
Trump, in turn, praised Musk as a &ldquo;leader&rdquo; and someone he has &ldquo;always respected.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;I wanted somebody really smart to work with me in terms of the country.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World, Trending: “He’s (Elon Musk) got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually,” US President Donald Trump said.

During a Fox News interview on Tuesday (Feb 18), Donald Trump poked fun at the way young staffers in his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dress. The former president was speaking with Elon Musk and host Sean Hannity when the topic turned to executive orders and their implementation. Also read: 'Absolutely bewildered': Alleged victims slam Trump administration for ‘interference’ in Andrew Tate case Trump recalled a conversation with Musk about how executive orders are often slow to take effect. “This is probably true for all presidents: you write an executive order and you think it’s done. You send it out. [But] it doesn’t get implemented. Maybe they’re from the last administration, and they are in some cases. You try to get them out as fast as you can,” Trump said, citing Musk’s comments. ”As soon as he said that, I said, you know, that’s interesting," Trump said. Also read: 'Unfortunate': Zelensky slams Trump for living in ‘disinformation bubble’ after false claim on approval rating Trump then praised Musk’s team, calling them “geniuses” before veering off course. “He’s got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually,” Trump said. “They dress in T-shirts. You wouldn’t know they have a 180 IQ,” he added Musk himself was wearing a T-shirt under his jacket and took a moment to show what was written on it. “My T-shirt says ‘TECH SUPPORT. Because I’m here to provide the president with technology support,” he said, prompting laughter from Trump. pic.twitter.com/s3bTYzTemS — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 14, 2025 Also read: Putin and Trump could meet before end of February, says Kremlin: Report The interview largely showcased a friendly dynamic between the two. Musk showed strong support for Trump, declaring, “I love the president.” He went on to say, “I have spent a lot of time with the president, and not once have I seen him do something that was mean or cruel or wrong. Not once.” Also read: Trump reflects on reciprocal tariff talks with PM Modi; 'Nobody can argue with me' Trump, in turn, praised Musk as a “leader” and someone he has “always respected.” He added, “I wanted somebody really smart to work with me in terms of the country.” (With inputs from agencies)

‘They dress in T-shirts’: Trump mocks ‘genius’ DOGE staffers who dress ‘worse than Elon Musk’

Who is Meret Schneider? The Swiss politician has received death threats after criticising Elon Musk&rsquo;s social media platform X.
Meret Schneider, a member of the National Council of Switzerland, has been facing criticism for suggesting stricter controls on Elon Musk's X, Facebook, and TikTok due to "their preference for extreme views".
Swiss lawmakers have also suggested banning social media platforms if needed.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-opens-for-social-media-influencers-under-trump-20-8663906">White House opens for social media influencers under Trump 2.0</a>
<h2>What did she say?</h2>
Schneider stressed on regulating social media, further arguing that Switzerland is lagging behind in doing so.&nbsp;
The Green Party politician, while stressing the need to regulate social media, said, "The EU [European Union] has been taking action against tech giants for a long time, and we are simply doing nothing."
She claimed that the election campaign in Germany shows how platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok pose a threat to democracy.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Posts that benefit the AfD are pushed while opposing content is suppressed,&rdquo; she claimed.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/drug-kingpin-arrested-after-wifes-social-media-posts-reveal-location-8658735">Drug kingpin arrested after wife&rsquo;s social media posts reveal location</a>
&ldquo;Today it affects Germany, in a few years it might affect the elections in Switzerland,&rdquo; Schneider told German-language newspaper Tagesanzeiger.
<h2>Schneider faces backlash&nbsp;</h2>
Roger Koppel, editor of Swiss magazine &lsquo;Die Weltwoche&rsquo; posted a screenshot of the article, which was titled, "If Necessary, X or TikTok Should Be Blocked".&nbsp;
The post went viral and triggered criticism of Schneider. Moreover, she also received death threats from anonymous numbers.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-releases-video-of-shackled-deportees-elon-musks-reaction-sparks-condemnation-8736268">White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation</a>
She said that she received a chilling phone call on Sunday night. &ldquo;We will kill you; trust me," a male voice reportedly told her.
Speaking to &lsquo;Tagesanzeiger&rsquo;, Schneider accused Koppel of fuelling the backlash. &ldquo;Koppel served me to his followers on a silver platter," she said.
She further claimed that the hate messages are not just from Germany but also from the US and Russia.&nbsp;
"So far, most of the attacks have come from German-speaking countries, but now I have the US community against me," she said, noting that many negative comments on X include hashtags like "Make America Great Again," "Free Speech," and "Elon Musk Will Save Us."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-sign-new-executive-orders-as-his-first-joint-interview-with-elon-musk-airs-8733996">US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's first joint interview to air today - Know all details inside</a>
<h2>Who is Meret Schneider?</h2>
Meret Schneider is a key member of the Green Party. Her political career started as a municipal councilor in Uster in 2014. She was then elected to the National Council in 2019 and returned in December last year.&nbsp;
Moreover, she is also the co-manager of Sentience Politics, organisation focused on animal rights, and has been an advocate for reducing meat consumption in Switzerland.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Meret Schneider has been facing criticism for suggesting stricter controls on Elon Musk's X, Facebook, and TikTok due to "their preference for extreme views".

Who is Meret Schneider? The Swiss politician has received death threats after criticising Elon Musk’s social media platform X. Meret Schneider, a member of the National Council of Switzerland, has been facing criticism for suggesting stricter controls on Elon Musk's X, Facebook, and TikTok due to "their preference for extreme views". Swiss lawmakers have also suggested banning social media platforms if needed. Also read: White House opens for social media influencers under Trump 2.0 What did she say? Schneider stressed on regulating social media, further arguing that Switzerland is lagging behind in doing so. The Green Party politician, while stressing the need to regulate social media, said, "The EU [European Union] has been taking action against tech giants for a long time, and we are simply doing nothing." She claimed that the election campaign in Germany shows how platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok pose a threat to democracy. “Posts that benefit the AfD are pushed while opposing content is suppressed,” she claimed. Also read: Drug kingpin arrested after wife’s social media posts reveal location “Today it affects Germany, in a few years it might affect the elections in Switzerland,” Schneider told German-language newspaper Tagesanzeiger. Schneider faces backlash Roger Koppel, editor of Swiss magazine ‘Die Weltwoche’ posted a screenshot of the article, which was titled, "If Necessary, X or TikTok Should Be Blocked". The post went viral and triggered criticism of Schneider. Moreover, she also received death threats from anonymous numbers. Also read: White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation She said that she received a chilling phone call on Sunday night. “We will kill you; trust me," a male voice reportedly told her. Speaking to ‘Tagesanzeiger’, Schneider accused Koppel of fuelling the backlash. “Koppel served me to his followers on a silver platter," she said. She further claimed that the hate messages are not just from Germany but also from the US and Russia. "So far, most of the attacks have come from German-speaking countries, but now I have the US community against me," she said, noting that many negative comments on X include hashtags like "Make America Great Again," "Free Speech," and "Elon Musk Will Save Us." Also read: US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's first joint interview to air today - Know all details inside Who is Meret Schneider? Meret Schneider is a key member of the Green Party. Her political career started as a municipal councilor in Uster in 2014. She was then elected to the National Council in 2019 and returned in December last year. Moreover, she is also the co-manager of Sentience Politics, organisation focused on animal rights, and has been an advocate for reducing meat consumption in Switzerland. (With inputs from agencies)

Swiss lawmaker Meret Schneider receives death threat for criticising Elon Musk's X - Here's what all she said

The White House shared a contentious 41-second video on its X handle on Tuesday (Feb 18) showing undocumented immigrants being led onto a deportation flight from Seattle in shackles.&nbsp;
The footage, captioned "ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight," shows close-ups of chains and cuffs on the tarmac, as well as detainees walking with their hands and ankles restrained.&nbsp;
The sound of shackles, chains, handcuffs, and flight engines has been used as &lsquo;ASMR&rsquo; (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) in the video.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7bt37xd-14dxircp-w1aleayq">
ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight 🔊 <a href="https://t.co/O6L1iYt9b4">pic.twitter.com/O6L1iYt9b4</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1891922058415603980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Elon Musk's post sparks condemnation</h2>
The post was later shared by US President Donald Trump's close ally and billionaire Elon Musk, who captioned it "Haha wow".
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7bt3ymb-kws7vk6j-qcsqqgza">
Haha wow 🧌🏅 <a href="https://t.co/PXFXpiGU0U">https://t.co/PXFXpiGU0U</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1891923570768384107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
The netizens denounced Musk's reaction, calling it "disgusting" and "dehumanising."
"This is disgusting. The fact that you think this is funny speaks volumes," said a user on X.
"You are pathetic, @elonmusk. A small man who laughs at a video of undocumented immigrants in shackles boarding a plan for being deported," wrote another.
"Regardless of immigration status, human dignity must be respected. Deportation is a serious matter, not entertainment. We should prioritise humane policies and fair treatment for all individuals," one of the netizens remarked.
<h2>Deportee recounts horror upon landing in Amritsar: &lsquo;Our legs were chained&rsquo;</h2>
A US military aircraft, with 119 Indian immigrants aboard, landed in Amritsar on Saturday night (Feb 15).
One of the deportees has now claimed that they were handcuffed and their legs were chained during the flight.
"Our legs were chained and hands were also cuffed," Daljit Singh told reporters in Hoshiarpur, according to news agency PTI.
A C-17 aircraft landed at Amritsar International Airport around 11:40 pm on Saturday, carrying the second batch of 119 Indian deportees from the US. This deportation is part of the Donald Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants, which began earlier this month. The first batch of 104 Indians was deported on February 5, and a third batch of 157 deportees is expected to arrive in India on Sunday (Feb 17).
The treatment being given to the deportees has become the centre of intense criticism.
The use of shackles has been widely condemned by human rights activists, stating that even deportees are human beings.
Earlier, Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar also addressed the concerns, stating that this was the standard operating procedure for deportation by the US authorities.
"Deportations by the US are organised and executed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. The standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE, which has been effective from 2012, I repeat, which is effective from 2012, provides for the use of restraints," Jaishankar told the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-deportation-deportee-recounts-horror-upon-landing-in-amritsar-our-legs-were-chained-8726055">Also read: US deportation: Deportee recounts horror upon landing in Amritsar; &lsquo;Our legs were chained&rsquo;</a>
<h2>'India ready to take back citizens living illegally in US': PM Modi</h2>
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to the United States, met President Donald Trump, where he stated that the ones living illegally in any other country, "do not have any legal right to be there."
He further said his country was ready to take back its citizens living in America illegally.
While condemning illegal immigration, Modi said it is a symptom of a bigger disease.
He said, "As far as India and the US are concerned, we have always said that those who are verified and are truly the citizens of India&mdash;if they live in the US illegally, India is ready to take them back."
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The video was later shared by US President Donald Trump's close ally and billionaire Elon Musk, who captioned it as "Haha wow". The netizens denounced Musk's reaction calling it "disgusting" and "dehumanising."

The White House shared a contentious 41-second video on its X handle on Tuesday (Feb 18) showing undocumented immigrants being led onto a deportation flight from Seattle in shackles. The footage, captioned "ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight," shows close-ups of chains and cuffs on the tarmac, as well as detainees walking with their hands and ankles restrained. The sound of shackles, chains, handcuffs, and flight engines has been used as ‘ASMR’ (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) in the video. ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight 🔊 pic.twitter.com/O6L1iYt9b4 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 18, 2025 Elon Musk's post sparks condemnation The post was later shared by US President Donald Trump's close ally and billionaire Elon Musk, who captioned it "Haha wow". Haha wow 🧌🏅 https://t.co/PXFXpiGU0U — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 18, 2025 The netizens denounced Musk's reaction, calling it "disgusting" and "dehumanising." "This is disgusting. The fact that you think this is funny speaks volumes," said a user on X. "You are pathetic, @elonmusk. A small man who laughs at a video of undocumented immigrants in shackles boarding a plan for being deported," wrote another. "Regardless of immigration status, human dignity must be respected. Deportation is a serious matter, not entertainment. We should prioritise humane policies and fair treatment for all individuals," one of the netizens remarked. Deportee recounts horror upon landing in Amritsar: ‘Our legs were chained’ A US military aircraft, with 119 Indian immigrants aboard, landed in Amritsar on Saturday night (Feb 15). One of the deportees has now claimed that they were handcuffed and their legs were chained during the flight. "Our legs were chained and hands were also cuffed," Daljit Singh told reporters in Hoshiarpur, according to news agency PTI. A C-17 aircraft landed at Amritsar International Airport around 11:40 pm on Saturday, carrying the second batch of 119 Indian deportees from the US. This deportation is part of the Donald Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants, which began earlier this month. The first batch of 104 Indians was deported on February 5, and a third batch of 157 deportees is expected to arrive in India on Sunday (Feb 17). The treatment being given to the deportees has become the centre of intense criticism. The use of shackles has been widely condemned by human rights activists, stating that even deportees are human beings. Earlier, Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar also addressed the concerns, stating that this was the standard operating procedure for deportation by the US authorities. "Deportations by the US are organised and executed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. The standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE, which has been effective from 2012, I repeat, which is effective from 2012, provides for the use of restraints," Jaishankar told the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Also read: US deportation: Deportee recounts horror upon landing in Amritsar; ‘Our legs were chained’ 'India ready to take back citizens living illegally in US': PM Modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to the United States, met President Donald Trump, where he stated that the ones living illegally in any other country, "do not have any legal right to be there." He further said his country was ready to take back its citizens living in America illegally. While condemning illegal immigration, Modi said it is a symptom of a bigger disease. He said, "As far as India and the US are concerned, we have always said that those who are verified and are truly the citizens of India—if they live in the US illegally, India is ready to take them back." (With inputs from agencies)

White House releases video of shackled deportees; Elon Musk's reaction sparks condemnation

US President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk made their first televised joint appearance in an interview. The discussion touched on various topics, including Musk’s role as an advisor to Trump and the White House’s stance on his influence.

US President Trump and Elon Musk hold joint interview discussing DOGE

<div>A US judge on Tuesday (Feb 18) declined a request to temporarily block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from firing federal employees and accessing agency data, a victory for President Donald Trump in his bid to shrink the government workforce.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Fourteen Democratic-ruled states had filed a lawsuit last week contesting Musk's legal authority, but District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their emergency request to pause his actions.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"Plaintiffs have not carried their burden of showing that they will suffer imminent, irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order," Chutkan said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kfc-moving-us-headquarters-from-kentucky-to-texas-8734961">KFC moving US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas</a></div>
<div></div>
<div>DOGE is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor. The billionaire has taken an assertive role in the new administration, with his agency aiming to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending.</div>
<div></div>
<div>His plans have effectively shuttered some federal agencies, sent thousands of staff members home and sparked legal battles across the country.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In their suit, the 14 states claimed that Musk and DOGE lacked statutory authority for their actions because he had not been formally nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.</div>
<div></div>
<div>"(Musk) exercises virtually unchecked power across the Executive Branch, making decisions about expenditures, contracts, government property, regulations, and the very existence of federal agencies," they said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In addition, Musk and DOGE have gained access to "sensitive data, information, systems, and technological and financial infrastructure across the federal government," they added.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-will-probably-meet-putin-this-month-dismisses-ukraine-concerns-8734879">Trump says he will &lsquo;probably&rsquo; meet Putin this month; dismisses Ukraine concerns</a></div>
<div></div>
<div>The 14 states had sought to block DOGE from accessing the data systems of the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation and Commerce, and from terminating any of their employees.</div>
<h2>'Considerable uncertainty'</h2>
Chutkan, in her ruling, said "the court is aware that DOGE's unpredictable actions have resulted in considerable uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents.
<div>"But the 'possibility' that Defendants may take actions that irreparably harm Plaintiffs 'is not enough,'" she said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Musk's cost-cutting spree has been met with legal pushback on a number of fronts and a mixed bag of rulings.</div>
<div></div>
<div>A different federal judge last week lifted a freeze he had temporarily imposed on a mass buyout plan offered by the Trump administration to federal workers.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In the mass buyout case, labour unions representing federal employees had filed suit to block the scheme masterminded by Musk to slash the size of government by encouraging federal workers to quit.</div>
<div></div>
<div>In an email titled "Fork in the Road," the more than two million US government employees were given an offer to leave with eight months' pay or risk being fired in future culls.</div>
<div></div>
<div>According to the White House, more than 75,000 federal employees signed on to the buyout offer from the Office of Personnel Management.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Trump's executive actions have been challenged in dozens of court cases and the White House has accused "judges in liberal districts" of "abusing their power" to block the president's moves.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The decisions have come from judges nominated by both Republican and Democratic presidents, including Trump himself during his first term.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Chutkan, an appointee of Democratic former president Barack Obama, presided over the now-abandoned case against Trump on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</div>
<div></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>

World: A US judge denies a bid to block Elon Musk and DOGE, a win for Trump in reducing federal workforce, allowing Musk access to agency data despite opposition.

A US judge on Tuesday (Feb 18) declined a request to temporarily block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from firing federal employees and accessing agency data, a victory for President Donald Trump in his bid to shrink the government workforce. Fourteen Democratic-ruled states had filed a lawsuit last week contesting Musk's legal authority, but District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their emergency request to pause his actions. "Plaintiffs have not carried their burden of showing that they will suffer imminent, irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order," Chutkan said. Also read | KFC moving US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas DOGE is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor. The billionaire has taken an assertive role in the new administration, with his agency aiming to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending. His plans have effectively shuttered some federal agencies, sent thousands of staff members home and sparked legal battles across the country. In their suit, the 14 states claimed that Musk and DOGE lacked statutory authority for their actions because he had not been formally nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. "(Musk) exercises virtually unchecked power across the Executive Branch, making decisions about expenditures, contracts, government property, regulations, and the very existence of federal agencies," they said. In addition, Musk and DOGE have gained access to "sensitive data, information, systems, and technological and financial infrastructure across the federal government," they added. Also read | Trump says he will ‘probably’ meet Putin this month; dismisses Ukraine concerns The 14 states had sought to block DOGE from accessing the data systems of the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation and Commerce, and from terminating any of their employees. 'Considerable uncertainty' Chutkan, in her ruling, said "the court is aware that DOGE's unpredictable actions have resulted in considerable uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents. "But the 'possibility' that Defendants may take actions that irreparably harm Plaintiffs 'is not enough,'" she said. Musk's cost-cutting spree has been met with legal pushback on a number of fronts and a mixed bag of rulings. A different federal judge last week lifted a freeze he had temporarily imposed on a mass buyout plan offered by the Trump administration to federal workers. In the mass buyout case, labour unions representing federal employees had filed suit to block the scheme masterminded by Musk to slash the size of government by encouraging federal workers to quit. In an email titled "Fork in the Road," the more than two million US government employees were given an offer to leave with eight months' pay or risk being fired in future culls. According to the White House, more than 75,000 federal employees signed on to the buyout offer from the Office of Personnel Management. Trump's executive actions have been challenged in dozens of court cases and the White House has accused "judges in liberal districts" of "abusing their power" to block the president's moves. The decisions have come from judges nominated by both Republican and Democratic presidents, including Trump himself during his first term. Chutkan, an appointee of Democratic former president Barack Obama, presided over the now-abandoned case against Trump on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US Court refuses to block Elon Musk, DOGE from accessing data, firing workers

Elon Musk says he is 'tech support' for President Donald Trump in Joint Interview

Elon Musk, in an unprecedented joint interview alongside US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Feb 18), dismissed reports of his growing influence in the Trump 2.0 administration and said he only views his role as facilitating the Republican leader's agenda.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief, who donned a "Tech Support" T-shirt for the interview brushed aside the criticism that he was acting as "President Musk" and said: Trump "is the elected representative of the people, so it's representing the will of the people."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/musk-trump-bromance-shines-in-joint-interview-as-doge-chief-calls-himself-tech-support-for-us-president-8734740">Musk-Trump 'bromance' shines in joint interview as DOGE chief calls himself 'tech support' for US prez</a>
Here are some of the other striking things the two men said during their noteworthy appearance on The Sean Hannity Show on Fox News.
<h2>Trump acknowledges his controversial media presence</h2>
Replying to a question about the media's alleged attempts to "divorce" Trump and Musk, the contentious US president claimed that despite doing the "greatest things," he gets "98 per cent bad publicity".
Naming and shaming multiple news outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, PBS, AP and CBS, Trump said that he used to think that the media was good at painting him as the bad guy but that "They're actually bad at it, because if they were good at it, I'd never be president because I &mdash; I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me."
"It's, like, the craziest thing," he remarked, adding "But you know what I have learned...The people are smart. They get it."&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blames-zelensky-for-ukraines-war-with-russia-you-should-have-never-started-it-8734910">Trump blames Zelensky for Ukraine's war with Russia; 'You should have never started it'</a>
<h2>Bureaucracy or democracy?</h2>
Portraying himself merely as the executor of Trump's orders, Musk said: "One of the biggest functions of the DOGE team is just making sure that the presidential executive orders are actually carried out."
He also pointed out that "this is a very important thing, because the president is the elected representative of the people, so he's representing the will of the people."
"And if the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy," he added.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tesla-posts-13-job-openings-in-india-after-ceo-elon-musks-meeting-with-pm-modi-8730853">Tesla posts 13 job openings in India after CEO Elon Musk's meeting with PM Modi</a>
<h2>Twitter/X payout to Trump</h2>
The recent $10 million settlement paid by Musk's X (formerly Twitter) was also discussed. Trump noted that he had "sued from long before he (Musk) had it.
"I mean, they really did a number on me, you know. &nbsp;And I sued, and they had to pay. &nbsp;You know, they paid $10 million settlement."
When asked if he was okay with footing the billions in settlement, the X CEO said, "I mean, I left it up to the lawyers and, you know, the team running Twitter. So, I said, 'You guys do what you think is the right &mdash; makes sense'."
The US president who was once banned from Twitter then joked: "I was looking to get much more money than that," and that he gave Musk a "big discount".
&nbsp;

Trending, World news | Discover Elon Musk's take on claims of being 'President Musk' as he clarifies his role in Trump 2.0 during a joint interview alongside Donald Trump.

Elon Musk, in an unprecedented joint interview alongside US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Feb 18), dismissed reports of his growing influence in the Trump 2.0 administration and said he only views his role as facilitating the Republican leader's agenda. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief, who donned a "Tech Support" T-shirt for the interview brushed aside the criticism that he was acting as "President Musk" and said: Trump "is the elected representative of the people, so it's representing the will of the people." Also read | Musk-Trump 'bromance' shines in joint interview as DOGE chief calls himself 'tech support' for US prez Here are some of the other striking things the two men said during their noteworthy appearance on The Sean Hannity Show on Fox News. Trump acknowledges his controversial media presence Replying to a question about the media's alleged attempts to "divorce" Trump and Musk, the contentious US president claimed that despite doing the "greatest things," he gets "98 per cent bad publicity". Naming and shaming multiple news outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, PBS, AP and CBS, Trump said that he used to think that the media was good at painting him as the bad guy but that "They're actually bad at it, because if they were good at it, I'd never be president because I — I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me." "It's, like, the craziest thing," he remarked, adding "But you know what I have learned...The people are smart. They get it." Also read | Trump blames Zelensky for Ukraine's war with Russia; 'You should have never started it' Bureaucracy or democracy? Portraying himself merely as the executor of Trump's orders, Musk said: "One of the biggest functions of the DOGE team is just making sure that the presidential executive orders are actually carried out." He also pointed out that "this is a very important thing, because the president is the elected representative of the people, so he's representing the will of the people." "And if the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy," he added. Also read | Tesla posts 13 job openings in India after CEO Elon Musk's meeting with PM Modi Twitter/X payout to Trump The recent $10 million settlement paid by Musk's X (formerly Twitter) was also discussed. Trump noted that he had "sued from long before he (Musk) had it. "I mean, they really did a number on me, you know. And I sued, and they had to pay. You know, they paid $10 million settlement." When asked if he was okay with footing the billions in settlement, the X CEO said, "I mean, I left it up to the lawyers and, you know, the team running Twitter. So, I said, 'You guys do what you think is the right — makes sense'." The US president who was once banned from Twitter then joked: "I was looking to get much more money than that," and that he gave Musk a "big discount".

Elon Musk dismisses claims of 'President Musk': Key points from joint interview with Donald Trump

Tesla is making its first concrete move towards entering the Indian market by listing 13 job openings covering both customer-facing and backend roles. Key positions, including service technicians and advisers, are available in Mumbai and Delhi, while other roles, such as customer engagement manager and delivery operation specialist, are focused on Mumbai. This hiring activity follows Tesla CEO Elon Musk's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US. Watch in for more details!

PM Modi-Musk talks boost Tesla's India plans

Ashley St. Clair has made headlines with her claim that Elon Musk is the father of her 5-month-old child.

Ashley St. Clair claims Elon musk is the father of her 5-month-old child

After several reports of "too much" power given to DOGE chief Elon Musk and something called "President Musk" claims on the internet, the White House said in a court filing that the Tesla CEO has "no formal authority to make government decisions" on Monday (Feb 17).&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/acting-commissioner-of-us-social-security-administration-resigns-after-musks-doge-seeks-data-access-8732445">Acting commissioner of US Social Security Administration resigns after Musk&rsquo;s DOGE seeks data access</a>
As per the filing by the director of the Office Administration, Joshua Fisher, Musk is "an employee of the White House... as a non-career Special Government Employee" and a "Senior Advisor to the President."
"Like other senior White House advisors, Mr Musk has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself. Mr Musk can only advise the President and communicate the President's directives," the filing further said.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-thinks-vampires-are-real-as-he-shares-doubtful-data-from-us-social-security-database-8729667">Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database</a>
Fisher further added that "the US DOGE Service is a component of the Executive Office of the President. The US DOGE Service Temporary Organization is within the US DOGE Service. Both are separate from the White House Office".&nbsp;
"Mr. Musk is an employee of the White House Office. He is not an employee of the US DOGE Service or US DOGE Service Temporary Organization. Mr. Musk is not the Temporary Administrator," he added.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-him-to-leave-earth-salman-rushdie-criticises-elon-musks-views-on-freedom-of-speech-8729370">&lsquo;Want him to leave Earth&rsquo;: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk&rsquo;s views on freedom of speech</a>
The filing was made in a case that was brought against Musk by 14 states of the US, including New Mexico.
Meanwhile, in a joined interview of Musk and US President Donald Trump, scheduled to be broadcast late Tuesday (Feb 18), Trump took a dig at those claiming the X owner was the one running the White House.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/elon-musk-led-doge-cancels-21-million-intended-for-voter-turnout-in-india-bjp-responds-8725771">Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds</a>
A short teaser of the interview showed Trump saying, "I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me... But you know what I have learned Elon? That people are smart, they get it."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-responds-after-influencer-ashley-st-clair-claims-to-be-mother-of-his-13th-child-8726612">Elon Musk responds after influencer Ashley St Clair claims to be mother of his 13th Child</a>
Musk replied, "Yeah they do actually."&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

WORLD | TRENDING | As per the filing by the director of the Office Administration, Joshua Fisher, Musk is "an employee of the White House... as a non-career Special Government Employee" and a "Senior Advisor to the President."

After several reports of "too much" power given to DOGE chief Elon Musk and something called "President Musk" claims on the internet, the White House said in a court filing that the Tesla CEO has "no formal authority to make government decisions" on Monday (Feb 17). Also read: Acting commissioner of US Social Security Administration resigns after Musk’s DOGE seeks data access As per the filing by the director of the Office Administration, Joshua Fisher, Musk is "an employee of the White House... as a non-career Special Government Employee" and a "Senior Advisor to the President." "Like other senior White House advisors, Mr Musk has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself. Mr Musk can only advise the President and communicate the President's directives," the filing further said. Also read: Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database Fisher further added that "the US DOGE Service is a component of the Executive Office of the President. The US DOGE Service Temporary Organization is within the US DOGE Service. Both are separate from the White House Office". "Mr. Musk is an employee of the White House Office. He is not an employee of the US DOGE Service or US DOGE Service Temporary Organization. Mr. Musk is not the Temporary Administrator," he added. Also read: ‘Want him to leave Earth’: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk’s views on freedom of speech The filing was made in a case that was brought against Musk by 14 states of the US, including New Mexico. Meanwhile, in a joined interview of Musk and US President Donald Trump, scheduled to be broadcast late Tuesday (Feb 18), Trump took a dig at those claiming the X owner was the one running the White House. Also read: Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds A short teaser of the interview showed Trump saying, "I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me... But you know what I have learned Elon? That people are smart, they get it." Also read: Elon Musk responds after influencer Ashley St Clair claims to be mother of his 13th Child Musk replied, "Yeah they do actually." (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk has 'no formal authority to make government decisions,' says White House

The acting commissioner of the US Social Security Administration Michelle King has left her job after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over its bid to access sensitive records, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing three people familiar the departure.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Musk's efforts on Sunday, saying President Donald Trump had directed him and DOGE to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-thinks-vampires-are-real-as-he-shares-doubtful-data-from-us-social-security-database-8729667">Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database</a>
"They haven't dug into the books yet, but they suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased people who are receiving fraudulent Social Security payments," she told Fox News.
Leavitt said DOGE was aiming to identify duplicate payments and to end them, identify payments going to dead people and to protect the integrity of the system.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
&nbsp;

World | White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Musk's efforts on Sunday, saying President Donald Trump had directed him and DOGE to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration.

The acting commissioner of the US Social Security Administration Michelle King has left her job after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over its bid to access sensitive records, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing three people familiar the departure. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Musk's efforts on Sunday, saying President Donald Trump had directed him and DOGE to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration. Also read | Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database "They haven't dug into the books yet, but they suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased people who are receiving fraudulent Social Security payments," she told Fox News. Leavitt said DOGE was aiming to identify duplicate payments and to end them, identify payments going to dead people and to protect the integrity of the system. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Acting commissioner of US Social Security Administration resigns after Musk’s DOGE seeks data access

Right-wing political commentator and author Ashley St. Clair claims she secretly gave birth to Elon Musk's 13th child five months ago, prompting media attention. Watch this report for more details!

Author Ashley St. Clair claims Elon Musk fathered her child

The US federal tax collection agency is reportedly preparing to give a team of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to personal taxpayer data.&nbsp;
This comes after DOGE requested access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax office's system.&nbsp;
The system contains sensitive information, including detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the US, The Washington Post reported.&nbsp;
The request is currently under review, and if allowed, it would give DOGE officials "broad access to tax-agency systems, property and datasets, including tax returns&rdquo;.
Among them is the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts&mdash;including personal identification numbers&mdash;and bank information."
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/elon-musk-led-doge-cancels-21-million-intended-for-voter-turnout-in-india-bjp-responds-8725771" rel="dofollow"> Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds</a>
Later, a Trump administration official defended the move, saying that DOGE staff are working on a mission to "eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people&rdquo;.
This latest move by Elon's DOGE has triggered concern within the government and among privacy experts. They warned that granting access to Musk could be dangerously risky, ABC News reported.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-doge-clock-understanding-the-real-time-tracker-for-government-spending-cuts-8717614" rel="dofollow">What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts</a>
"People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that not only will it be used legally, but also handled securely and in ways that minimize risks like identity theft and personal invasion, which this reporting brings into serious question," Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said.&nbsp;
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the request, saying, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-agencies-trump-musk-and-doge-have-been-trying-to-dismantle-and-downsize-heres-the-full-list-8714727" rel="dofollow">US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Elon Musk's department DOGE is requesting access to a classified IRS system that contains the sensitive personal financial records of millions of Americans.

The US federal tax collection agency is reportedly preparing to give a team of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to personal taxpayer data. This comes after DOGE requested access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax office's system. The system contains sensitive information, including detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the US, The Washington Post reported. The request is currently under review, and if allowed, it would give DOGE officials "broad access to tax-agency systems, property and datasets, including tax returns”. Among them is the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts—including personal identification numbers—and bank information." Also read: Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds Later, a Trump administration official defended the move, saying that DOGE staff are working on a mission to "eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people”. This latest move by Elon's DOGE has triggered concern within the government and among privacy experts. They warned that granting access to Musk could be dangerously risky, ABC News reported. Also read: What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts "People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that not only will it be used legally, but also handled securely and in ways that minimize risks like identity theft and personal invasion, which this reporting brings into serious question," Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the request, saying, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it." Also read: US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list (With inputs from agencies)

IRS preparing to give Elon Musk's DOGE access to sensitive taxpayer data: Report

Elon Musk is set to introduce the latest version of his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok 3, developed by his company xAI. The launch is scheduled for Monday night (US time), with Musk describing the model as the &ldquo;smartest AI on Earth.&rdquo;
The live demonstration of Grok 3 will take place on Monday, 17 February 2025, at 8 pm PT. This translates to Tuesday, 9:30 am IST or 4 am GMT. The chatbot will be available on X.com, the social media platform owned by Musk.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-him-to-leave-earth-salman-rushdie-criticises-elon-musks-views-on-freedom-of-speech-8729370">&lsquo;Want him to leave Earth&rsquo;: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk&rsquo;s views on freedom of speech</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-pm-modi-personally-receives-qatars-amir-at-delhi-airport-ahead-of-key-bilateral-talks-8730187"></a>
Grok 3 has been developed using xAI&rsquo;s Colossus supercomputer, which was built in eight months and trained using 100,000 Nvidia GPU hours. The model is designed to be three times faster than its predecessor, Grok 2, which was launched in August 2024.
The updated AI chatbot includes synthetic datasets, self-correction mechanisms, and reinforcement learning. These enhancements aim to reduce errors, commonly referred to as "hallucinations," while improving accuracy and training efficiency.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk suggested that Grok 3 represents a significant step in AI development. He noted that this may be the last instance where an AI model surpasses Grok&rsquo;s capabilities, hinting at the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-doge-requests-access-to-sensitive-taxpayer-data-in-irs-sparks-privacy-concerns-8730046">Elon Musk's DOGE requests access to sensitive taxpayer data in IRS, sparks privacy concerns</a>
<h2>Competition and market context</h2>
The launch of Grok 3 comes amid growing competition in the AI industry. Recent advancements from rivals, such as OpenAI&rsquo;s ChatGPT and Google DeepMind&rsquo;s Gemini, have intensified the race for superior AI models. Grok 3's debut follows the release of DeepSeek&rsquo;s AI assistant, which gained significant traction on Apple&rsquo;s App Store.
Reports indicate that xAI is in the process of raising $10 billion in funding. Investors, including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Valor Equity Partners, are expected to participate, potentially increasing xAI&rsquo;s valuation to $75 billion.
Grok AI remains accessible as a free chatbot on X.com, providing users with an alternative to other AI models in the market.

Science & Technology: Grok 3 has been developed using xAI’s Colossus supercomputer, which was built in eight months and trained using 100,000 Nvidia GPU hours.

Elon Musk is set to introduce the latest version of his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok 3, developed by his company xAI. The launch is scheduled for Monday night (US time), with Musk describing the model as the “smartest AI on Earth.” The live demonstration of Grok 3 will take place on Monday, 17 February 2025, at 8 pm PT. This translates to Tuesday, 9:30 am IST or 4 am GMT. The chatbot will be available on X.com, the social media platform owned by Musk. Also read: ‘Want him to leave Earth’: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk’s views on freedom of speech Grok 3 has been developed using xAI’s Colossus supercomputer, which was built in eight months and trained using 100,000 Nvidia GPU hours. The model is designed to be three times faster than its predecessor, Grok 2, which was launched in August 2024. The updated AI chatbot includes synthetic datasets, self-correction mechanisms, and reinforcement learning. These enhancements aim to reduce errors, commonly referred to as "hallucinations," while improving accuracy and training efficiency. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk suggested that Grok 3 represents a significant step in AI development. He noted that this may be the last instance where an AI model surpasses Grok’s capabilities, hinting at the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. Also read: Elon Musk's DOGE requests access to sensitive taxpayer data in IRS, sparks privacy concerns Competition and market context The launch of Grok 3 comes amid growing competition in the AI industry. Recent advancements from rivals, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google DeepMind’s Gemini, have intensified the race for superior AI models. Grok 3's debut follows the release of DeepSeek’s AI assistant, which gained significant traction on Apple’s App Store. Reports indicate that xAI is in the process of raising $10 billion in funding. Investors, including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Valor Equity Partners, are expected to participate, potentially increasing xAI’s valuation to $75 billion. Grok AI remains accessible as a free chatbot on X.com, providing users with an alternative to other AI models in the market.

'Smartest AI on Earth': Elon Musk to launch Grok 3 today! All about it

Elon Musk, known for his witty statements on the internet, raised eyebrows by sharing a screenshot of what seemed to be data from the US Social Security database and joked that maybe vampires are real. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-him-to-leave-earth-salman-rushdie-criticises-elon-musks-views-on-freedom-of-speech-8729370">DOGE</a> chief shared the screenshot on his social media platform X, highlighting a government record having information about the age of individuals in the Social Security Administration (SSA).&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-him-to-leave-earth-salman-rushdie-criticises-elon-musks-views-on-freedom-of-speech-8729370">&lsquo;Want him to leave Earth&rsquo;: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk&rsquo;s views on freedom of speech</a>
The data showed people with age brackets of 100-109 as alive, raising questions on data error and fraud.&nbsp;
The Tesla CEO said, "According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!"&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-responds-after-influencer-ashley-st-clair-claims-to-be-mother-of-his-13th-child-8726612">Elon Musk responds after influencer Ashley St Clair claims to be mother of his 13th Child</a>
He joked and referred to the popular vampire-themed show "Twilight" saying, "Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security," adding two laughing emojis.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m79234en-2xuci9y1-sg2rmfky">
According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/ltb06VX98Z">pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1891350795452654076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
The data showed millions of people over 100 years of age still alive in America, which suggested that perhaps these people are not just senior citizens but vampires.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/starlink-service-in-bangladesh-soon-muhammad-yunus-holds-talk-with-elon-musk-invites-him-to-visit-nation-8724898">Starlink service in Bangladesh soon? Muhammad Yunus holds talk with Elon Musk, invites him to visit nation</a>
As shown in the "Twilight," vampires are immortal.&nbsp;
As Musk shared the data, many commentators pointed out that this could be a "massive fraud red flag". They called for an urgent audit of the data.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musks-control-over-us-health-agencies-raises-health-and-security-concerns-8724476">Musk&rsquo;s control over US health agencies raises health and security concerns, experts say</a>
"Over 20M 'people' listed as 100+ years old in the SS database? Time for a serious audit. Either we've got immortals gaming the system or some major data integrity issues," an X user wrote.&nbsp;
As the data was fetched from a real official source, the accuracy of the actual population of the US is now in doubt.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-jd-vance-defends-elon-musk-munich-security-conference-election-interference-claims-8721870">'You can survive few months of Elon Musk': US VP JD Vance defends X boss amid election interference claims</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

WORLD | TRENDING | The DOGE chief shared the screenshot on his social media platform X highlighting a government record having information about the age of individuals in the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Elon Musk, known for his witty statements on the internet, raised eyebrows by sharing a screenshot of what seemed to be data from the US Social Security database and joked that maybe vampires are real. The DOGE chief shared the screenshot on his social media platform X, highlighting a government record having information about the age of individuals in the Social Security Administration (SSA). Also read: ‘Want him to leave Earth’: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk’s views on freedom of speech The data showed people with age brackets of 100-109 as alive, raising questions on data error and fraud. The Tesla CEO said, "According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!" Also read: Elon Musk responds after influencer Ashley St Clair claims to be mother of his 13th Child He joked and referred to the popular vampire-themed show "Twilight" saying, "Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security," adding two laughing emojis. According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025 The data showed millions of people over 100 years of age still alive in America, which suggested that perhaps these people are not just senior citizens but vampires. Also read: Starlink service in Bangladesh soon? Muhammad Yunus holds talk with Elon Musk, invites him to visit nation As shown in the "Twilight," vampires are immortal. As Musk shared the data, many commentators pointed out that this could be a "massive fraud red flag". They called for an urgent audit of the data. Also read: Musk’s control over US health agencies raises health and security concerns, experts say "Over 20M 'people' listed as 100+ years old in the SS database? Time for a serious audit. Either we've got immortals gaming the system or some major data integrity issues," an X user wrote. As the data was fetched from a real official source, the accuracy of the actual population of the US is now in doubt. Also read: 'You can survive few months of Elon Musk': US VP JD Vance defends X boss amid election interference claims (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk thinks vampires are real as he shares doubtful data from US Social Security database

Salman Rushdie, the British-Indian author, expressed his strong disapproval of billionaire Elon Musk during an interview at the Hay Festival in Cartagena, Colombia. The 77-year-old writer openly stated that he is not a fan of Musk and shared his desire for the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to be the first person to travel to Mars.&nbsp;
Rushdie was responding to a question about freedom of speech and Musk&rsquo;s stance on the matter, particularly in relation to his social media platform. The author argued that Musk&rsquo;s actions contradict the notion of free expression, claiming that the platform curates discourse aligned with the extreme-right. "What you really do is the opposite [of defending free expression]. It&rsquo;s very dishonest,&rdquo; Rushdie remarked. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a fan of Mr. Musk. And I would love for him to be the first man on Mars,&rdquo; he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-responds-after-influencer-ashley-st-clair-claims-to-be-mother-of-his-13th-child-8726612">Elon Musk responds after influencer Ashley St Clair claims to be mother of his 13th Child</a>
When the interviewer suggested that Musk should stay on Mars, Rushdie agreed, affirming his desire for the billionaire to leave Earth. He also recalled a meeting with Musk a decade ago, where the SpaceX founder had predicted a seven-year timeline to reach Mars. Rushdie expressed his frustration, stating, &ldquo;Seven years have already passed, and I really want him to leave.&rdquo;
<h2>Anti-immigration sentiment</h2>
The conversation also touched on the rise of anti-immigration sentiment in Western countries. Rushdie, who migrated from India to the UK and then to the US, reflected on the weakening support for values such as tolerance and empathy. He stated that migration had always contributed positively to culture and reminded the interviewer that, aside from Native Americans, everyone in the US is a migrant. &ldquo;Isn&rsquo;t the United States a nation of immigrants? Apart from Native Americans, everyone is a migrant,&rdquo; Rushdie noted, pointing out that even Musk is originally from South Africa.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/elon-musk-led-doge-cancels-21-million-intended-for-voter-turnout-in-india-bjp-responds-8725771">Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds</a>
Rushdie&rsquo;s comments came in the context of the Trump administration&rsquo;s immigration policies, which Musk has supported. The author also briefly referenced the attack he survived in August 2022, revealing that he had recently appeared in court for the ongoing trial, where he showed his blind right eye.

World: Salman Rushdie also recalled a meeting with Musk a decade ago, where the SpaceX founder had predicted a seven-year timeline to reach Mars. Expressing frustration, Rushdie said, “Seven years have already passed, and I really want him to leave.”

Salman Rushdie, the British-Indian author, expressed his strong disapproval of billionaire Elon Musk during an interview at the Hay Festival in Cartagena, Colombia. The 77-year-old writer openly stated that he is not a fan of Musk and shared his desire for the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to be the first person to travel to Mars. Rushdie was responding to a question about freedom of speech and Musk’s stance on the matter, particularly in relation to his social media platform. The author argued that Musk’s actions contradict the notion of free expression, claiming that the platform curates discourse aligned with the extreme-right. "What you really do is the opposite [of defending free expression]. It’s very dishonest,” Rushdie remarked. “I’m not a fan of Mr. Musk. And I would love for him to be the first man on Mars,” he added. Also read: Elon Musk responds after influencer Ashley St Clair claims to be mother of his 13th Child When the interviewer suggested that Musk should stay on Mars, Rushdie agreed, affirming his desire for the billionaire to leave Earth. He also recalled a meeting with Musk a decade ago, where the SpaceX founder had predicted a seven-year timeline to reach Mars. Rushdie expressed his frustration, stating, “Seven years have already passed, and I really want him to leave.” Anti-immigration sentiment The conversation also touched on the rise of anti-immigration sentiment in Western countries. Rushdie, who migrated from India to the UK and then to the US, reflected on the weakening support for values such as tolerance and empathy. He stated that migration had always contributed positively to culture and reminded the interviewer that, aside from Native Americans, everyone in the US is a migrant. “Isn’t the United States a nation of immigrants? Apart from Native Americans, everyone is a migrant,” Rushdie noted, pointing out that even Musk is originally from South Africa. Also read: Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds Rushdie’s comments came in the context of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which Musk has supported. The author also briefly referenced the attack he survived in August 2022, revealing that he had recently appeared in court for the ongoing trial, where he showed his blind right eye.

‘Want him to leave Earth’: Salman Rushdie criticises Elon Musk’s views on freedom of speech

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said that he has asked billionaire Elon Musk to bring satellite internet service Starlink to Bangladesh.&nbsp;
The Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh took to X on Saturday, saying, "Had a great meeting with Mr @elonmusk. We agreed to work together. Hoping to launch Starlink in Bangladesh soon together with him."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-role-of-our-deep-state-trump-says-bangladesh-situation-is-for-pm-modi-to-address-8721976">'No role of our deep state': Trump says Bangladesh situation is for PM Modi to address</a>
Earlier on Friday, Yunus in a post on X, said that he had an extensive video discussion with Tesla owner Elon Musk "to explore future collaboration and to make further progress to introduce Starlink satellite internet service in Bangladesh."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday held an extensive video discussion with <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>, the owner of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, to explore future collaboration and to make further progress to introduce Starlink satellite internet service in Bangladesh. <a href="https://t.co/X2cMwF4OvW">pic.twitter.com/X2cMwF4OvW</a>
&mdash; Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiefAdviserGoB/status/1890112628774826489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
Bangladesh's chief advisor on Thursday held an extensive video call discussion with Musk to make further progress in introducing Starlink satellite to boost internet service in Bangladesh.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crimes-against-humanity-un-says-bangladeshs-former-govt-behind-deadly-attacks-on-protesters-8714260">'Crimes against humanity': UN says Bangladesh's former govt behind deadly attacks on protesters</a>
He also extended an invitation to Musk to visit Bangladesh for the potential launch of Starlink services, noting the significance of this initiative for national development.&nbsp;
Musk responded positively to Yunus' demand, saying, "I look forward to it."
People present in the discussion included, Khalilur Rahman, High Representative for the Rohingya crisis and priority issues, and Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator of SDGs, on the Bangladesh side, and Lauren Dreyer, Vice President and Richard Griffiths, Global Engagement Adviser from Space X.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yunus-led-interim-government-preparing-for-december-elections-bnps-fakhrul-8708750">Yunus-led interim government preparing for December elections: BNP&rsquo;s Fakhrul</a>
Yunus and Musk emphasised the transformational impact of Starlink's satellite, especially for Bangladesh's enterprising youth, rural and vulnerable women and remote communities.&nbsp;
Yunus emphasised that integrating Starlink's connectivity into Bangladesh's infrastructure would create new opportunities for millions. It would also integrate the country more closely into the global digital economy, he added.&nbsp;
According to a release, Yunus also expressed interest in working along with Musk to unlock the full potential of technology-driven social and economic growth in Bangladesh.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/south-asia/who-rejected-secularism-exiled-taslima-nasreen-slams-yunus-govt-after-attack-on-sheikh-mujibur-rahmans-house-8696264">'Who rejected secularism...': Exiled Taslima Nasreen slams Yunus govt after attack on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house</a>&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

South asia: Bangladesh's Yunus on Thursday held an extensive video call discussion with Musk to make further progress in introducing Starlink satellite in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said that he has asked billionaire Elon Musk to bring satellite internet service Starlink to Bangladesh. The Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh took to X on Saturday, saying, "Had a great meeting with Mr @elonmusk. We agreed to work together. Hoping to launch Starlink in Bangladesh soon together with him." Also read: 'No role of our deep state': Trump says Bangladesh situation is for PM Modi to address Earlier on Friday, Yunus in a post on X, said that he had an extensive video discussion with Tesla owner Elon Musk "to explore future collaboration and to make further progress to introduce Starlink satellite internet service in Bangladesh." Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday held an extensive video discussion with @elonmusk, the owner of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, to explore future collaboration and to make further progress to introduce Starlink satellite internet service in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/X2cMwF4OvW — Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) February 13, 2025 Bangladesh's chief advisor on Thursday held an extensive video call discussion with Musk to make further progress in introducing Starlink satellite to boost internet service in Bangladesh. Also read: 'Crimes against humanity': UN says Bangladesh's former govt behind deadly attacks on protesters He also extended an invitation to Musk to visit Bangladesh for the potential launch of Starlink services, noting the significance of this initiative for national development. Musk responded positively to Yunus' demand, saying, "I look forward to it." People present in the discussion included, Khalilur Rahman, High Representative for the Rohingya crisis and priority issues, and Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator of SDGs, on the Bangladesh side, and Lauren Dreyer, Vice President and Richard Griffiths, Global Engagement Adviser from Space X. Also read: Yunus-led interim government preparing for December elections: BNP’s Fakhrul Yunus and Musk emphasised the transformational impact of Starlink's satellite, especially for Bangladesh's enterprising youth, rural and vulnerable women and remote communities. Yunus emphasised that integrating Starlink's connectivity into Bangladesh's infrastructure would create new opportunities for millions. It would also integrate the country more closely into the global digital economy, he added. According to a release, Yunus also expressed interest in working along with Musk to unlock the full potential of technology-driven social and economic growth in Bangladesh. Also read: 'Who rejected secularism...': Exiled Taslima Nasreen slams Yunus govt after attack on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house (With inputs from agencies)

Starlink service in Bangladesh soon? Muhammad Yunus holds talk with Elon Musk, invites him to visit nation

Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk did not hesitate to slam his son in a recent podcast interview, as he called his son a "bad, neglectful father".&nbsp;
The billionaire's father said that Musk has not been present for his many children.&nbsp;
While speaking with Joshua Rubin, Musk's father accused the Tesla CEO of prioritising his work over his children and leaving them with the nannies.
In a short video shared on social media, Rubin was seen asking, "Do you think Elon is a good dad?" to which Errol Musk replied, "No, he hasn't been a good dad."
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF-0_wVtoRU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Joshua Rubin (@joshwideawake)</a>
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</blockquote>
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-is-the-father-influencer-claims-shes-secretly-given-birth-to-tesla-ceos-child-8723226">&lsquo;Elon Musk is the father&rsquo;: Influencer claims she&rsquo;d secretly given birth to Tesla CEO&rsquo;s child</a>
Speaking about Musk's first child, Nevada Alexander, who died when he was just 10 months old, Errol said, "The first child was too much with nannies and died in the care of a nanny."
<h2>'He's gonna shoot me if Elon hears this...'</h2>
Errol further said that if his son hears this, he's gonna shoot him.&nbsp;
"If Elon hears this, he's gonna shoot me or something. But anyway, that's what I think, that's not good," the billionaire's father said.&nbsp;
Commenting on Musk's parenting style, Errol said that they were too rich and hence too many nannies.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meet-shivon-zilis-elon-musks-girlfriend-with-indian-roots-8721289">Meet Shivon Zilis, Elon Musk's girlfriend with Indian roots</a>
"Then he had five children with the same woman. Five sons, each one had its own nanny. You following me?," he said.&nbsp;
When Rubin said that Musk never really spent time with his children, Errol reacted with a firm, "No."
<h2>Netizens react&nbsp;</h2>
In the video shared on Instagram, users shared mixed reactions to what Errol claimed. While, some said that he was brutally honest, others thought he was just stirring the pot.&nbsp;
"Sounds like he just wants kids but doesn't want to be a father," a user commented.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-expresses-honour-after-meeting-pm-narendra-modi-8720604">Elon Musk says 'an honour to meet' Indian PM Narendra Modi</a>
Another slammed Errol, saying, "Because Errol Musk is the beacon of shining morals."
One user commented, "Let me tell you who is a bad father, someone who would go and publicly criticise his own son for the attention."
Notably, recently, Musk was seen taking his young son X to public events. He took his son to a press conference in the Oval Office, where he was briefing along with US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;
He also brought three of his children when he went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-jd-vance-defends-elon-musk-munich-security-conference-election-interference-claims-8721870">'You can survive few months of Elon Musk': US VP JD Vance defends X boss amid election interference claims</a>
However, Elon's ex-partner Grimes expressed her disapproval of their son's X increasing public presence.&nbsp;
"He should not be in public like this,&rdquo; she wrote on X.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: While speaking with Joshua Rubin, Musk's father accused the Tesla CEO of prioritising his work over his children and leaving them with the nannies.

Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk did not hesitate to slam his son in a recent podcast interview, as he called his son a "bad, neglectful father". The billionaire's father said that Musk has not been present for his many children. While speaking with Joshua Rubin, Musk's father accused the Tesla CEO of prioritising his work over his children and leaving them with the nannies. In a short video shared on social media, Rubin was seen asking, "Do you think Elon is a good dad?" to which Errol Musk replied, "No, he hasn't been a good dad." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joshua Rubin (@joshwideawake) Also read: ‘Elon Musk is the father’: Influencer claims she’d secretly given birth to Tesla CEO’s child Speaking about Musk's first child, Nevada Alexander, who died when he was just 10 months old, Errol said, "The first child was too much with nannies and died in the care of a nanny." 'He's gonna shoot me if Elon hears this...' Errol further said that if his son hears this, he's gonna shoot him. "If Elon hears this, he's gonna shoot me or something. But anyway, that's what I think, that's not good," the billionaire's father said. Commenting on Musk's parenting style, Errol said that they were too rich and hence too many nannies. Also read: Meet Shivon Zilis, Elon Musk's girlfriend with Indian roots "Then he had five children with the same woman. Five sons, each one had its own nanny. You following me?," he said. When Rubin said that Musk never really spent time with his children, Errol reacted with a firm, "No." Netizens react In the video shared on Instagram, users shared mixed reactions to what Errol claimed. While, some said that he was brutally honest, others thought he was just stirring the pot. "Sounds like he just wants kids but doesn't want to be a father," a user commented. Also read: Elon Musk says 'an honour to meet' Indian PM Narendra Modi Another slammed Errol, saying, "Because Errol Musk is the beacon of shining morals." One user commented, "Let me tell you who is a bad father, someone who would go and publicly criticise his own son for the attention." Notably, recently, Musk was seen taking his young son X to public events. He took his son to a press conference in the Oval Office, where he was briefing along with US President Donald Trump. He also brought three of his children when he went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also read: 'You can survive few months of Elon Musk': US VP JD Vance defends X boss amid election interference claims However, Elon's ex-partner Grimes expressed her disapproval of their son's X increasing public presence. "He should not be in public like this,” she wrote on X. (With inputs from agencies)

'He's gonna shoot me if he hears this': Errol Musk slams son Elon's parenting, says he's 'not a good dad'

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