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

<p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><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></strong></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>India a "tariff king"</strong><b></b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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;</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The interview was recorded earlier but broadcast on Wednesday (Feb 19).</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><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></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>&ldquo;Unfair&rdquo; to the US</strong><b></b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The import duty on electric vehicles that cost at least $35,000 is 15 per cent in India, subject to conditions.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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;</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><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></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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." </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Musk chimed in, revealing that the tariffs on auto imports were actually a staggering 100 per cent.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Musk has also agreed with Trump and said &ldquo;It needs to be at a level playing field and fair and square.&rdquo; </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>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.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>&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.</p>
<p>&ldquo;They got left in space," Trump added to Musk.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>Musk further said, "They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good."</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>&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.</p>
<p>&ldquo;You now have the go-ahead," Trump said, to which Musk responded, &ldquo;Yes. Well, thanks to you."&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>The US president further claimed that Musk's company did not have the go-ahead with the Biden administration.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&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;</p>
<h2>Astronauts say 'not abandoned'</h2>
<p>The two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore, have been stranded in low-Earth orbit since June.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>&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.</p>
<p>&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."</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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

<p>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.</p>
<p>The former president was speaking with Elon Musk and host Sean Hannity when the topic turned to executive orders and their implementation.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>&rdquo;As soon as he said that, I said, you know, that&rsquo;s interesting," Trump said.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>&ldquo;They dress in T-shirts. You wouldn&rsquo;t know they have a 180 IQ,&rdquo; he added</p>
<p>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;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7bx2l3z-b8wdcfbo-cmuqro0r">
<p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/s3bTYzTemS">pic.twitter.com/s3bTYzTemS</a></p>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1890288333370323327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>The interview largely showcased a friendly dynamic between the two. Musk showed strong support for Trump, declaring, &ldquo;I love the president.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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’

<p>Who is Meret Schneider? The Swiss politician has received death threats after criticising Elon Musk&rsquo;s social media platform X.</p>
<p>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".</p>
<p>Swiss lawmakers have also suggested banning social media platforms if needed.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<h2>What did she say?</h2>
<p>Schneider stressed on regulating social media, further arguing that Switzerland is lagging behind in doing so.&nbsp;</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>She claimed that the election campaign in Germany shows how platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok pose a threat to democracy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Posts that benefit the AfD are pushed while opposing content is suppressed,&rdquo; she claimed.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;Today it affects Germany, in a few years it might affect the elections in Switzerland,&rdquo; Schneider told German-language newspaper Tagesanzeiger.</p>
<h2>Schneider faces backlash&nbsp;</h2>
<p>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;</p>
<p>The post went viral and triggered criticism of Schneider. Moreover, she also received death threats from anonymous numbers.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>She further claimed that the hate messages are not just from Germany but also from the US and Russia.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<h2>Who is Meret Schneider?</h2>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>The sound of shackles, chains, handcuffs, and flight engines has been used as &lsquo;ASMR&rsquo; (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) in the video.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7bt37xd-14dxircp-w1aleayq">
<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight 🔊 <a href="https://t.co/O6L1iYt9b4">pic.twitter.com/O6L1iYt9b4</a></p>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1891922058415603980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2><strong>Elon Musk's post sparks condemnation</strong></h2>
<p>The post was later shared by US President Donald Trump's close ally and billionaire Elon Musk, who captioned it "Haha wow".</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7bt3ymb-kws7vk6j-qcsqqgza">
<p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Haha wow 🧌🏅 <a href="https://t.co/PXFXpiGU0U">https://t.co/PXFXpiGU0U</a></p>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1891923570768384107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>The netizens denounced Musk's reaction, calling it "disgusting" and "dehumanising."</p>
<p>"This is disgusting. The fact that you think this is funny speaks volumes," said a user on X.</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<h2><strong>Deportee recounts horror upon landing in Amritsar: &lsquo;Our legs were chained&rsquo;</strong></h2>
<p>A US military aircraft, with 119 Indian immigrants aboard, landed in Amritsar on Saturday night (Feb 15).</p>
<p>One of the deportees has now claimed that they were handcuffed and their legs were chained during the flight.</p>
<p>"Our legs were chained and hands were also cuffed," Daljit Singh told reporters in Hoshiarpur, according to news agency PTI.</p>
<p>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).</p>
<p>The treatment being given to the deportees has become the centre of intense criticism.</p>
<p>The use of shackles has been widely condemned by human rights activists, stating that even deportees are human beings.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p><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></p>
<h2><strong>'India ready to take back citizens living illegally in US': PM Modi</strong></h2>
<p>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."</p>
<p>He further said his country was ready to take back its citizens living in America illegally.</p>
<p>While condemning illegal immigration, Modi said it is a symptom of a bigger disease.</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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 | <strong><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></strong></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 | <strong><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></strong></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><strong>'Considerable uncertainty'</strong></h2>
<p>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.</p>
<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><em>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.</em></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

<p>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.</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>Here are some of the other striking things the two men said during their noteworthy appearance on The Sean Hannity Show on Fox News.</p>
<h2><strong>Trump acknowledges his controversial media presence</strong></h2>
<p>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".</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>"It's, like, the craziest thing," he remarked, adding "But you know what I have learned...The people are smart. They get it."&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Bureaucracy or democracy?</strong></h2>
<p>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."</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Twitter/X payout to Trump</strong></h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>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'."</p>
<p>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".</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>"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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>"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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>The filing was made in a case that was brought against Musk by 14 states of the US, including New Mexico.</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>Musk replied, "Yeah they do actually."&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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

<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><em>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.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p>This comes after DOGE requested access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax office's system.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The system contains sensitive information, including detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the US, The Washington Post reported.&nbsp;</p>
<p>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;.</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;.</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>"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;</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong><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></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Competition and market context</strong></h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Grok AI remains accessible as a free chatbot on X.com, providing users with an alternative to other AI models in the market.</p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>The data showed people with age brackets of 100-109 as alive, raising questions on data error and fraud.&nbsp;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m79234en-2xuci9y1-sg2rmfky">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!<br><br>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></p>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1891350795452654076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>As shown in the "Twilight," vampires are immortal.&nbsp;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>"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;</p>
<p>As the data was fetched from a real official source, the accuracy of the actual population of the US is now in doubt.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<h2>Anti-immigration sentiment</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>

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

<p>Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said that he has asked billionaire Elon Musk to bring satellite internet service Starlink to Bangladesh.&nbsp;</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">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></p>
&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>
<p>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;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>Musk responded positively to Yunus' demand, saying, "I look forward to it."</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>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;</strong></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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

<p>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;</p>
<p>The billionaire's father said that Musk has not been present for his many children.&nbsp;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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."</p>
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<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>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."</p>
<h2>'He's gonna shoot me if Elon hears this...'</h2>
<p>Errol further said that if his son hears this, he's gonna shoot him.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"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;</p>
<p>Commenting on Musk's parenting style, Errol said that they were too rich and hence too many nannies.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>"Then he had five children with the same woman. Five sons, each one had its own nanny. You following me?," he said.&nbsp;</p>
<p>When Rubin said that Musk never really spent time with his children, Errol reacted with a firm, "No."</p>
<h2>Netizens react&nbsp;</h2>
<p>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;</p>
<p>"Sounds like he just wants kids but doesn't want to be a father," a user commented.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>Another slammed Errol, saying, "Because Errol Musk is the beacon of shining morals."</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>He also brought three of his children when he went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>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></strong></p>
<p>However, Elon's ex-partner Grimes expressed her disapproval of their son's X increasing public presence.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"He should not be in public like this,&rdquo; she wrote on X.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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'

<p dir="ltr"><span>Conservative influencer and columnist Ashley St. Clair claimed on Friday (Feb 14) that she gave birth to Elon Musk's baby five months ago. Her post is quickly gaining traction, with people sharing varied remarks - from congratulating her to talking about the world&rsquo;s richest man.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The alleged new mother, Clair, 26, is a conservative firebrand opinion maker who has previously courted controversy by fraternising with the far right. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In a post on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, she wrote: </span><span>&ldquo;Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father."</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Clair said that she previously didn&rsquo;t disclose this for her child&rsquo;s safety "but now it has become clear that the media intends to do so regardless of the harm caused."</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-does-s-jaishankar-responds-to-us-senator-saying-democracy-doesnt-put-food-on-table-8722821">&lsquo;It does&rsquo;: S Jaishankar responds to US Senator saying democracy doesn't put food on table</a></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>&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. I intend to allow our child to grow in a normal and safe environment. For that reason, I ask that the media honor our child&rsquo;s privacy, and refrain from invasive reporting," Clair added.</span><b></b></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="ro" dir="ltr">Alea Iacta Est <a href="https://t.co/gvVaFNTGqn">pic.twitter.com/gvVaFNTGqn</a></p>
&mdash; Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) <a href="https://twitter.com/stclairashley/status/1890554279749951687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Musk fathered 12 children over 20 years</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to People magazine, the Tesla CEO has fathered 12 children with different women over 20 years. He first became a father in 2002 when he and ex-wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, welcomed their son Nevada Alexander. Tragically, the baby passed away when he was 10 weeks old.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>After their first child, Musk and his wife resorted to IVF, expanding their family with five more children: twins Vivian and Griffin, and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Notably, Vivian, formerly known as Xavier, is Elon Musk's transgender daughter, with whom he has had a strained relationship due to her transition.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-reiterates-his-call-on-hamas-to-release-hostages-dont-know-what-will-happen-tomorrow-8722652">'I don't know what's going to happen': Trump expresses uncertainty about hostage release by Hamas</a></strong><span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Musk's marriage to Justine Wilson ended in divorce in 2008 after a seven-year union. He then had a tumultuous relationship with actress Talulah Riley, marrying her twice without having children together. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Musk expanded his family again in 2020 when he had a child, X &AElig; A-Xii, with his partner, singer Grimes.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>People reported that the couple went on to have two more children, a girl, Exa Dark Sider&aelig;l, and a boy, Techno Mechanicus.</span><b></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In addition to his other children, Elon Musk also has twins, Strider and Azure, with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, which also is owned by Musk.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Furthermore, the couple reportedly welcomed another child in 2024, whose name has not been publicly revealed.</span></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World: Conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair claims she gave birth to Elon Musk's child, sparking a social media frenzy with mixed reactions, from congratulations to scepticism.

Conservative influencer and columnist Ashley St. Clair claimed on Friday (Feb 14) that she gave birth to Elon Musk's baby five months ago. Her post is quickly gaining traction, with people sharing varied remarks - from congratulating her to talking about the world’s richest man. The alleged new mother, Clair, 26, is a conservative firebrand opinion maker who has previously courted controversy by fraternising with the far right. In a post on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, she wrote: “Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father." Clair said that she previously didn’t disclose this for her child’s safety "but now it has become clear that the media intends to do so regardless of the harm caused." Also read | ‘It does’: S Jaishankar responds to US Senator saying democracy doesn't put food on table “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. I intend to allow our child to grow in a normal and safe environment. For that reason, I ask that the media honor our child’s privacy, and refrain from invasive reporting," Clair added. Alea Iacta Est pic.twitter.com/gvVaFNTGqn — Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) February 15, 2025 Musk fathered 12 children over 20 years According to People magazine, the Tesla CEO has fathered 12 children with different women over 20 years. He first became a father in 2002 when he and ex-wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, welcomed their son Nevada Alexander. Tragically, the baby passed away when he was 10 weeks old. After their first child, Musk and his wife resorted to IVF, expanding their family with five more children: twins Vivian and Griffin, and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian. Notably, Vivian, formerly known as Xavier, is Elon Musk's transgender daughter, with whom he has had a strained relationship due to her transition. Also read | 'I don't know what's going to happen': Trump expresses uncertainty about hostage release by Hamas Musk's marriage to Justine Wilson ended in divorce in 2008 after a seven-year union. He then had a tumultuous relationship with actress Talulah Riley, marrying her twice without having children together. Musk expanded his family again in 2020 when he had a child, X Æ A-Xii, with his partner, singer Grimes. People reported that the couple went on to have two more children, a girl, Exa Dark Sideræl, and a boy, Techno Mechanicus. In addition to his other children, Elon Musk also has twins, Strider and Azure, with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, which also is owned by Musk. Furthermore, the couple reportedly welcomed another child in 2024, whose name has not been publicly revealed. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Elon Musk is the father’: Influencer claims she’d secretly given birth to Tesla CEO’s child

<p>US Vice-President JD Vance addressed allegations of election interference against Elon Musk during his speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday (Feb 14).</p>
<p>Vance criticised efforts to silence voices, arguing that such actions do more harm than good. "Protecting nothing" and "the most sure way to destroy democracy" is how he described shutting out viewpoints.</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-news-today-joins-germany-afd-rally-germans-to-move-beyond-past-guilt-amid-nazi-salute-controversy-8654678" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt'</a></strong></p>
<p>"If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg&rsquo;s scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk," he said. He further added, "But what German democracy, what no democracy, American, German or European, will survive, is telling millions of voters that their thoughts and concerns, their aspirations, their pleas for relief, are invalid or unworthy of even being considered."</p>
<p>During his speech, Vance also spoke out against the practice of isolating far-right groups from mainstream politics, asserting, "There is no room for firewalls."</p>
<h2><strong>Election interference claims against Elon Musk</strong></h2>
<p>His comments come amid intensifying criticism of Musk from European leaders, who accuse the owner of social media platform X of interfering in political affairs.</p>
<p>Last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-No&euml;l Barrot said, "Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the laws that we have given ourselves to protect our public space, or it does not do so and then it will have to agree to give back the capacity to do so to the EU member states."</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blinken-defends-musk-says-x-boss-free-to-express-his-views-8602948" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Blinken defends Musk, says Trump aide 'has right to express his views'</a></strong></p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron also accused Musk of attempting to shape electoral outcomes, including Germany&rsquo;s upcoming snap elections on 23 February. "Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany," Macron said in a speech to French ambassadors.</p>
<p>Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St&oslash;re said, "I find it worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries."</p>
<p>Musk has been vocal in his support for Germany&rsquo;s right-wing opposition party, Alternative f&uuml;r Deutschland (AfD), ahead of the elections. He wrote an opinion piece in a German newspaper endorsing AfD and also hosted a live discussion with the party&rsquo;s chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, on X.</p>
<p>In January, Musk appeared via video link at an AfD rally, where he encouraged support for the party. "I&rsquo;m very excited for the AfD. I think you&rsquo;re really the best hope for Germany&rsquo;s fight for a great future for Germany," he declared.</p>

World: "If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg’s scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk," US Vice President JD Vance said.

US Vice-President JD Vance addressed allegations of election interference against Elon Musk during his speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday (Feb 14). Vance criticised efforts to silence voices, arguing that such actions do more harm than good. "Protecting nothing" and "the most sure way to destroy democracy" is how he described shutting out viewpoints. Also read: 'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt' "If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg’s scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk," he said. He further added, "But what German democracy, what no democracy, American, German or European, will survive, is telling millions of voters that their thoughts and concerns, their aspirations, their pleas for relief, are invalid or unworthy of even being considered." During his speech, Vance also spoke out against the practice of isolating far-right groups from mainstream politics, asserting, "There is no room for firewalls." Election interference claims against Elon Musk His comments come amid intensifying criticism of Musk from European leaders, who accuse the owner of social media platform X of interfering in political affairs. Last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, "Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the laws that we have given ourselves to protect our public space, or it does not do so and then it will have to agree to give back the capacity to do so to the EU member states." Also read: Blinken defends Musk, says Trump aide 'has right to express his views' French President Emmanuel Macron also accused Musk of attempting to shape electoral outcomes, including Germany’s upcoming snap elections on 23 February. "Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany," Macron said in a speech to French ambassadors. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, "I find it worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries." Musk has been vocal in his support for Germany’s right-wing opposition party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), ahead of the elections. He wrote an opinion piece in a German newspaper endorsing AfD and also hosted a live discussion with the party’s chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, on X. In January, Musk appeared via video link at an AfD rally, where he encouraged support for the party. "I’m very excited for the AfD. I think you’re really the best hope for Germany’s fight for a great future for Germany," he declared.

'You can survive few months of Elon Musk': US VP JD Vance defends X boss amid election interference claims

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with world's richest man Elon Musk on Thursday (Feb 13) who was accompanied by his partner Shivon Zilis and his three children.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Pictures shared online showed Zilis talking to PM Modi and taking care of the kids.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-expresses-honour-after-meeting-pm-narendra-modi-8720604">Elon Musk expresses 'honour' after meeting PM Narendra Modi</a></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Who is Shivon Zilis?&nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p>Shivon Zilis (39) was born in Canada to an Indian mother Sharda N and a Canadian father Richard Zilis.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She has worked in Tesla as a Project Director between 2017 and 2019. Currently, she works at Neuralink as Director of operations and special projects. It's a brain implant company owned by Elon Musk.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-wants-to-do-business-in-india-trump-says-its-very-hard-due-of-high-tariffs-8719225">Did Musk meet Modi as a CEO or US govt official? Trump thinks it's the former</a></strong></p>
<p>She has also worked with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman - a friend turned rival of Musk. Zilis has also been part of the founding team of Bloomberg Beta.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list of VC in 2015. She was also a part of LinkedIn's 35 Under 35 list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Zilis and Musk have three children together - Little X, Azure, and Strider. The couple welcomed Azure and Strider in 2021. In 2024, she gave birth to their third child. She now has moved to Musk's house in Texas which he made for all his 11 children.</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-kids-take-the-limelight-as-he-meets-pm-modi-in-us-see-pics-here-8719191">Elon Musk's kids steal the show as he meets PM Modi in US | See pics</a></strong></p>
<h2><strong>PM Modi's gifts to Musk's kids&nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p>PM Modi gifted books to Elon Musk's three children. The books were: The Crescent Moon by Rabindranath Tagore, The Great RK Narayan Collection, and Panchatantra by Pandit Vishnu Sharma. He was seen reading the books with the kids in the shared photos.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-meets-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-8719029">Indian PM Modi meets Elon Musk; &lsquo;discussed space, mobility, technology and innovation&rsquo;</a></strong></p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

WORLD | TRENDING | Zilis has also worked with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman - a friend turned rival of Musk. Zilis have also been part of the founding team of Bloomberg Beta.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with world's richest man Elon Musk on Thursday (Feb 13) who was accompanied by his partner Shivon Zilis and his three children. Pictures shared online showed Zilis talking to PM Modi and taking care of the kids. Also read: Elon Musk expresses 'honour' after meeting PM Narendra Modi Who is Shivon Zilis? Shivon Zilis (39) was born in Canada to an Indian mother Sharda N and a Canadian father Richard Zilis. She has worked in Tesla as a Project Director between 2017 and 2019. Currently, she works at Neuralink as Director of operations and special projects. It's a brain implant company owned by Elon Musk. Also read: Did Musk meet Modi as a CEO or US govt official? Trump thinks it's the former She has also worked with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman - a friend turned rival of Musk. Zilis has also been part of the founding team of Bloomberg Beta. She was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list of VC in 2015. She was also a part of LinkedIn's 35 Under 35 list. Zilis and Musk have three children together - Little X, Azure, and Strider. The couple welcomed Azure and Strider in 2021. In 2024, she gave birth to their third child. She now has moved to Musk's house in Texas which he made for all his 11 children. Also read: Elon Musk's kids steal the show as he meets PM Modi in US | See pics PM Modi's gifts to Musk's kids PM Modi gifted books to Elon Musk's three children. The books were: The Crescent Moon by Rabindranath Tagore, The Great RK Narayan Collection, and Panchatantra by Pandit Vishnu Sharma. He was seen reading the books with the kids in the shared photos. Also read: Indian PM Modi meets Elon Musk; ‘discussed space, mobility, technology and innovation’ (With inputs from agencies)

Meet Shivon Zilis, Elon Musk's girlfriend with Indian roots

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