Elon Musk has caused waves once again, this time with his surprise video address to a rally of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland) party on January 25. Watch in for more details!

Elon Musk Backs Germany’s Far-right Afd Party, Says ‘Best For Country’s Future’

Elon Musk addressed Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, endorsing its nationalist sentiments and critiquing multiculturalism. Watch this report for more details!

Germany: Elon Musk addresses AfD campaign launch event

Elon Musk has caused waves once again, this time with his surprise video address to a rally of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland) party on January 25.

2025 Germany elections: After 'Nazi salute', Musk joins German far-right campaign

2025 Germany elections: Musk addresses AfD campaign launch event

The long-standing feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has once again reignited, this time due to Musk's criticism of the artificial intelligence project Stargate. Watch in for more details!

Elon Musk calls 'Stargate' announcement 'fake'

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 21) introduced a plan to invest $500 billion in creating new Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres across the United States. In this proposal, big names in the tech industry, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, were also together.
All three executives credit Trump for the project, and Altman said to him that it would not be possible without "Mr President". The project was started under the Biden administration.&nbsp;
Trump replied to the executives by praising the "high-quality people" working on the project. The project is what the second Trump administration wishes to accomplish, but some of the members of the administration seemed not so happy with the announcement.&nbsp;
WATCH: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elon-musk-sam-altman-feud-over-stargate">Elon Musk &amp; Sam Altman feud over Stargate</a>
Soon after the announcement of the project, Trump's ally and Altman's former ally, Elon Musk, had a public outburst. The billionaire, leading the newly formed DOGE department under Trump, spent days on social media claiming that neither OpenAI nor SoftBank has sufficient funds to invest. He was also seen firing jabs at Altman, who was once an ally of the X owner and now an enemy.&nbsp;
In a post announcing the project by the OpenAI on Musk-owned X, the billionaire replied, "They don&rsquo;t have the money." He further said, &ldquo;SoftBank has well under $10bn secured. I have that on good authority.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-in-talks-with-multiple-people-over-buying-tiktok-8655469">US President Donald Trump in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok</a>
Musk even called the announcement fake and termed Altman a "grifter". This was the latest in the rivalry between Musk and Altman, who once founded Open AI together, and just after that, Musk left the company.&nbsp;
But Musk's argument was in total contradiction to Trump's praise for the project. And no one was ready for it after Musk's massive support for the Republican in the 2024 presidential election.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-says-uk-pm-keir-starmer-elon-musk-criticism-8655008">Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism</a>
Trump, in response to the criticism by Musk, said on Thursday (Jan 23), "The people in the deal are very, very smart people &ndash; but Elon, one of the people he happens to hate. But I have certain hatreds of people too."&nbsp;
Moreover, as per a report by Politico, Trump's staff are "furious" with Elon Musk. &ldquo;The problem is, the president doesn&rsquo;t have any leverage over him, and Elon gives zero f***s," says one of the staff members to the news agency.&nbsp;
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">'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt'</a>
Former Trump aide and Maga guru, Steve Bannon, called Musk &ldquo;out of control." He added that Musk "should not reverse" what Trump has already promised.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | The project is what the second Trump administration wishes to accomplish, but some of the members of the administration seemed not so happy with the announcement. 

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 21) introduced a plan to invest $500 billion in creating new Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres across the United States. In this proposal, big names in the tech industry, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, were also together. All three executives credit Trump for the project, and Altman said to him that it would not be possible without "Mr President". The project was started under the Biden administration. Trump replied to the executives by praising the "high-quality people" working on the project. The project is what the second Trump administration wishes to accomplish, but some of the members of the administration seemed not so happy with the announcement. WATCH: Elon Musk & Sam Altman feud over Stargate Soon after the announcement of the project, Trump's ally and Altman's former ally, Elon Musk, had a public outburst. The billionaire, leading the newly formed DOGE department under Trump, spent days on social media claiming that neither OpenAI nor SoftBank has sufficient funds to invest. He was also seen firing jabs at Altman, who was once an ally of the X owner and now an enemy. In a post announcing the project by the OpenAI on Musk-owned X, the billionaire replied, "They don’t have the money." He further said, “SoftBank has well under $10bn secured. I have that on good authority.” Also read: US President Donald Trump in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok Musk even called the announcement fake and termed Altman a "grifter". This was the latest in the rivalry between Musk and Altman, who once founded Open AI together, and just after that, Musk left the company. But Musk's argument was in total contradiction to Trump's praise for the project. And no one was ready for it after Musk's massive support for the Republican in the 2024 presidential election. Also read: Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism Trump, in response to the criticism by Musk, said on Thursday (Jan 23), "The people in the deal are very, very smart people – but Elon, one of the people he happens to hate. But I have certain hatreds of people too." Moreover, as per a report by Politico, Trump's staff are "furious" with Elon Musk. “The problem is, the president doesn’t have any leverage over him, and Elon gives zero f***s," says one of the staff members to the news agency. Also read: 'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt' Former Trump aide and Maga guru, Steve Bannon, called Musk “out of control." He added that Musk "should not reverse" what Trump has already promised. (With inputs from agencies)

Musk's decade-old rivalry with Sam Altman creates hitch between Tesla CEO and Trump

Elon Musk & Sam Altman feud over Stargate

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump</a> has praised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his performance, describing it as "very good thus far." He also noted their "very good relationship" during comments given to the BBC on Saturday (Jan 25).
When asked about their interactions, Trump mentioned they were scheduled to hold a phone conversation within 24 hours. The two leaders have previously met several times, including when Sir Keir visited Trump Tower in New York during the US presidential campaign.
"I get along with him well. I like him a lot. He's liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he's a very good person and I think he's done a very good job thus far," Trump said of Sir Keir.
"He's represented his country in terms of philosophy. I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him," he added.
Aso read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-zelensky-says-us-has-not-stopped-military-aid-to-kyiv-8654837" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ukraine war: Zelensky says US has not stopped military aid to Kyiv</a>
Following Trump&rsquo;s re-election last November, Sir Keir and the US president spoke on the phone. At the time, Downing Street stressed the strength of the UK&mdash;US relationship, saying it remained "incredibly strong" and would "continue to thrive."
<h2>Elon Musk's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer</h2>
Despite Trump's positive comments, billionaire Elon Musk, and self-appointed 'first buddy' of the US president, has been sharply critical of Sir Keir Starmer. Musk has frequently called for the UK leader's removal and has used his social media platform X to voice his opposition.
Earlier this month, Musk publicly criticised Sir Keir in connection with the grooming gangs scandal, accusing the prime minister of being "deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes." Sir Keir, who served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, rejected the accusations, calling them "lies and misinformation" and adding he had addressed prosecutions "head-on."
Musk&rsquo;s disputes with Sir Keir&rsquo;s government are not new. He has previously referred to Britain as a &ldquo;police state&rdquo; due to its handling of the Southport riots, which led to violent street clashes during the summer. Musk has repeatedly criticised Starmer on X while expressing support for Reform UK, a political party.
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">'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt'</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-live-us-extends-greetings-to-india-on-republic-day-8654335"></a>Musk&rsquo;s alignment with far-right movements is part of a larger pattern. He has supported leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and even appeared as a guest at an AfD rally in Germany on Saturday.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Despite US President Donald Trump's positive comments, billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of the US president, has been sharply critical of Sir Keir Starmer.

US President Donald Trump has praised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his performance, describing it as "very good thus far." He also noted their "very good relationship" during comments given to the BBC on Saturday (Jan 25). When asked about their interactions, Trump mentioned they were scheduled to hold a phone conversation within 24 hours. The two leaders have previously met several times, including when Sir Keir visited Trump Tower in New York during the US presidential campaign. "I get along with him well. I like him a lot. He's liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he's a very good person and I think he's done a very good job thus far," Trump said of Sir Keir. "He's represented his country in terms of philosophy. I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him," he added. Aso read: Ukraine war: Zelensky says US has not stopped military aid to Kyiv Following Trump’s re-election last November, Sir Keir and the US president spoke on the phone. At the time, Downing Street stressed the strength of the UK—US relationship, saying it remained "incredibly strong" and would "continue to thrive." Elon Musk's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer Despite Trump's positive comments, billionaire Elon Musk, and self-appointed 'first buddy' of the US president, has been sharply critical of Sir Keir Starmer. Musk has frequently called for the UK leader's removal and has used his social media platform X to voice his opposition. Earlier this month, Musk publicly criticised Sir Keir in connection with the grooming gangs scandal, accusing the prime minister of being "deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes." Sir Keir, who served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, rejected the accusations, calling them "lies and misinformation" and adding he had addressed prosecutions "head-on." Musk’s disputes with Sir Keir’s government are not new. He has previously referred to Britain as a “police state” due to its handling of the Southport riots, which led to violent street clashes during the summer. Musk has repeatedly criticised Starmer on X while expressing support for Reform UK, a political party. Also read: 'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt' Musk’s alignment with far-right movements is part of a larger pattern. He has supported leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and even appeared as a guest at an AfD rally in Germany on Saturday. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump says UK PM Starmer is doing 'very good job' despite 'first buddy' Elon Musk's criticism

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/elon-musk" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk</a> made an unexpected virtual appearance at a rally for Germany&rsquo;s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday (Jan 25), reaffirming his support ahead of the country's snap election on February 23.&nbsp;
<h2>'AfD: The best hope for Germany'</h2>
Speaking to a crowd of 4,500 alongside party leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/following-scholzs-remarks-about-musk-at-wef-billionaire-calls-german-chancellor-oaf-schitz-8642037">Alice Weidel</a>, Musk called the AfD the &ldquo;best hope for Germany&rdquo; and urged people to move on from &ldquo;past guilt.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cia-covid-19-origin-lab-leak-donald-trumps-cia-pick-john-ratcliffe-takes-charge-8654524">CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19, but with 'low confidence' as Ratcliffe takes charge</a>
Joining the event via video link, the Tesla CEO spoke about the importance of &ldquo;preserving German culture&rdquo; and &ldquo;protecting the German people.&rdquo; 
He added that pride in German values should not be diluted by multiculturalism. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,&rdquo; Musk said.
Musk also criticised Germany&rsquo;s government, accusing it of suppressing free speech. 
<h2>'Too much focus on past guilt'</h2>
Referencing the country&rsquo;s Nazi history, he said, &ldquo;Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents. There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that.&rdquo;
During his speech, Musk openly encouraged support for the AfD, saying, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-anti-dei-order-grounds-documentary-of-tuskegee-airmen-and-female-wwii-pilots-8654667">Trump&rsquo;s anti-DEI order grounds documentary of Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots</a>
Party co-leader Alice Weidel thanked Musk, adding, &ldquo;Make Germany great again!&rdquo;
The rally appearance follows a recent controversy surrounding Musk. Last week, the billionaire faced backlash after making a gesture that some online compared to a Nazi salute during an event for US President Donald Trump. 
Earlier this month, Musk hosted Weidel for an interview on his platform, X, sparking further concerns about interference in Germany&rsquo;s elections. During the interview, Musk questioned Weidel about allegations linking the AfD to Hitler&rsquo;s Nazi regime. In response, Weidel dismissed the claims, describing Hitler as a &ldquo;communist socialist guy&rdquo; and asserting that the AfD represents &ldquo;exactly the opposite.&rdquo;
Musk&rsquo;s endorsement of the AfD is part of a broader pattern of support for far-right leaders in Europe. He has previously voiced approval for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, though he later criticised Farage, claiming he &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t have what it takes.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Germany AfD: Referencing the country’s Nazi history, Musk said, “Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents.”

Elon Musk made an unexpected virtual appearance at a rally for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday (Jan 25), reaffirming his support ahead of the country's snap election on February 23. 'AfD: The best hope for Germany' Speaking to a crowd of 4,500 alongside party leader Alice Weidel, Musk called the AfD the “best hope for Germany” and urged people to move on from “past guilt.” Also read: CIA says lab leak 'more likely' origin of COVID-19, but with 'low confidence' as Ratcliffe takes charge Joining the event via video link, the Tesla CEO spoke about the importance of “preserving German culture” and “protecting the German people.” He added that pride in German values should not be diluted by multiculturalism. “It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said. Musk also criticised Germany’s government, accusing it of suppressing free speech. 'Too much focus on past guilt' Referencing the country’s Nazi history, he said, “Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents. There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that.” During his speech, Musk openly encouraged support for the AfD, saying, “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.” Also read: Trump’s anti-DEI order grounds documentary of Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots Party co-leader Alice Weidel thanked Musk, adding, “Make Germany great again!” The rally appearance follows a recent controversy surrounding Musk. Last week, the billionaire faced backlash after making a gesture that some online compared to a Nazi salute during an event for US President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, Musk hosted Weidel for an interview on his platform, X, sparking further concerns about interference in Germany’s elections. During the interview, Musk questioned Weidel about allegations linking the AfD to Hitler’s Nazi regime. In response, Weidel dismissed the claims, describing Hitler as a “communist socialist guy” and asserting that the AfD represents “exactly the opposite.” Musk’s endorsement of the AfD is part of a broader pattern of support for far-right leaders in Europe. He has previously voiced approval for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, though he later criticised Farage, claiming he “doesn’t have what it takes.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Make Germany great again': Elon Musk urges Germans to move beyond 'past guilt'

The White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has denied billionaire Elon Musk a prime office space near the Oval Office. Musk is head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk will instead be based in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, located outside the main White House complex. Watch in for more details!

White House chief of staff 'denied' office to Musk in West Wing

American Oversight, a prominent ethics watchdog has raised alarms about Elon Musk's involvement in Donald Trump&rsquo;s newly proposed "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge). The group alleges that Doge's use of encrypted messaging apps, such as Signal with auto-delete features, could breach the Federal Records Act (FRA). &nbsp;
Doge, an agency Trump plans to establish to implement drastic government cuts, has sparked ethical concerns due to Musk's significant business interests. American Oversight claims Musk's leadership could create "potential conflicts of interest," given Musk's business empire and Doge's potential influence over federal agencies.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-was-sworn-in-as-president-metas-ai-bewildered-following-trump-inauguration-8649229">&lsquo;Biden was sworn in as president,&rsquo; Meta&rsquo;s AI bewildered following Trump inauguration</a>&nbsp;
<h2>Encrypted messaging concerns</h2>
Reports that Doge members are using Signal's auto-delete feature prompted the watchdog to send warnings on Wednesday (Jan 22) to Musk, Doge, and various federal departments, including Defence, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was also notified &mdash; the watchdog has reportedly urged the archivist to pursue legal action if records are unlawfully destroyed or removed. &nbsp;
The FRA mandates that agencies preserve records that document federal activities, decisions, and policies. American Oversight insists all communications related to Doge, both pre-and post-Trump's inauguration earlier this week, are federal records subject to preservation. &nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/algorithm-sucks-musk-says-he-will-lose-his-mind-over-nazi-salute-posts-on-his-x-feed-8648774">&lsquo;Algorithm sucks,&rsquo; Musk says he will &lsquo;lose his mind&rsquo; over &lsquo;Nazi salute&rsquo; posts on his X feed</a>
<h2>Transparency demands</h2>
Chioma Chukwu, American Oversight's interim executive director, criticised what she described as attempts to conceal Doge's activities.&nbsp;
"Efforts are clearly underway to conceal information that would expose the Trump administration&rsquo;s plans to gut critical services that benefit the American people, and Doge &ndash; led by unelected billionaires poised to benefit from their self-serving machinations &ndash; is no exception," she alleged, as reported by The Guardian.
She warned that "Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lets-call-a-spade-a-fking-spade-musks-transgender-daughter-reacts-to-fathers-nazi-salute-claims-8647360">Let's call a spade a f***king spade: Musk's transgender daughter reacts to father's 'Nazi salute' claims</a>
"That is why we have put the administration on notice: comply with your obligation to preserve all Doge-related records, or defend that secrecy in court," she stated. &nbsp;
This is not the first time American Oversight has clashed with Trump's administration. The group has previously sued Trump's administration over documents tied to Rudy Giuliani's Ukraine communications and preventable immigrant deaths under ICE custody.
(With inputs from agencies)

Explore the ethical concerns raised by American Oversight about Elon Musk's role in Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency, known as Doge.

American Oversight, a prominent ethics watchdog has raised alarms about Elon Musk's involvement in Donald Trump’s newly proposed "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge). The group alleges that Doge's use of encrypted messaging apps, such as Signal with auto-delete features, could breach the Federal Records Act (FRA). Doge, an agency Trump plans to establish to implement drastic government cuts, has sparked ethical concerns due to Musk's significant business interests. American Oversight claims Musk's leadership could create "potential conflicts of interest," given Musk's business empire and Doge's potential influence over federal agencies. Also read | ‘Biden was sworn in as president,’ Meta’s AI bewildered following Trump inauguration Encrypted messaging concerns Reports that Doge members are using Signal's auto-delete feature prompted the watchdog to send warnings on Wednesday (Jan 22) to Musk, Doge, and various federal departments, including Defence, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was also notified — the watchdog has reportedly urged the archivist to pursue legal action if records are unlawfully destroyed or removed. The FRA mandates that agencies preserve records that document federal activities, decisions, and policies. American Oversight insists all communications related to Doge, both pre-and post-Trump's inauguration earlier this week, are federal records subject to preservation. Also read | ‘Algorithm sucks,’ Musk says he will ‘lose his mind’ over ‘Nazi salute’ posts on his X feed Transparency demands Chioma Chukwu, American Oversight's interim executive director, criticised what she described as attempts to conceal Doge's activities. "Efforts are clearly underway to conceal information that would expose the Trump administration’s plans to gut critical services that benefit the American people, and Doge – led by unelected billionaires poised to benefit from their self-serving machinations – is no exception," she alleged, as reported by The Guardian. She warned that "Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable." Also read | Let's call a spade a f***king spade: Musk's transgender daughter reacts to father's 'Nazi salute' claims "That is why we have put the administration on notice: comply with your obligation to preserve all Doge-related records, or defend that secrecy in court," she stated. This is not the first time American Oversight has clashed with Trump's administration. The group has previously sued Trump's administration over documents tied to Rudy Giuliani's Ukraine communications and preventable immigrant deaths under ICE custody. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk and Donald Trump's 'Doge' agency under ethics watchdog's radar. Here's why

Amid the &lsquo;Nazi salute&rsquo; row surrounding US billionaire Elon Musk, the X boss said Friday he would &lsquo;lose his mind&rsquo; if he saw another post featuring his raised-arm gesture on his feed.
"If I see one more damn Nazi salute in my feed, I&rsquo;m gonna lose my mind,&rdquo; Musk wrote, slamming the X algorithm.
&ldquo;This algorithm sucks!!"
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6a7vqic-2t3avhmf-oeb73qbr">
If I see one more damn Nazi salute in my feed, I&rsquo;m gonna lose my mind 🤪 This algorithm sucks!!
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1882591207026512033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
Musk&rsquo;s satirical post comes after the Tesla boss sparked a massive controversy on January 20 by raising his right arm in the air while thanking Trump&rsquo;s supporters.
The gesture, his critics said, resembled a Nazi salute.
Responding to his criticism on X Musk wrote, &ldquo;The radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi."
He also said in another X post that his critics needed &ldquo;better dirty tricks&rdquo; to attack him.
<h2>Netanyahu comes to rescue</h2>
Amid the controversy, Musk saw support from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday (Jan 23), who stressed the tech mogul was being "falsely smeared".
&ldquo;Elon is a great friend of Israel," wrote the PM of the Jewish nation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6a7w6c9-aegbdja4-9duvvrn7">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> is being falsely smeared. Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel&rsquo;s&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/VkBptanDmp">https://t.co/VkBptanDmp</a>
&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1882392668497756279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/benjamin-netanyahu-elon-musk-nazi-salute-israel-hitler-8647897">'Great friend of Israel': Netanyahu defends Elon Musk after his 'Nazi' salute</a>
Netanyahu added that Musk had "repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel's right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state."
<h2>&lsquo;Defund Wikipedia&rsquo;</h2>
Musk also went all guns blazing against Wikipedia for labelling his hand gesture as a "Nazi" or "fascist" salute.
"Since legacy media propaganda is considered a 'valid' source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!" the billionaire wrote on X.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lets-call-a-spade-a-fking-spade-musks-transgender-daughter-reacts-to-fathers-nazi-salute-claims-8647360">Let's call a spade a f***king spade: Musk's transgender daughter reacts to father's 'Nazi salute' claims</a>
He also urged his supporters to "defund Wikipedia until balance is restored."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6a7wlya-blhzsv1t-67dmtfvo">
Defund Wikipedia until balance is restored! <a href="https://t.co/CIszNP5Pvc">https://t.co/CIszNP5Pvc</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881752947379642825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales was quick to retaliate, saying Musk was unhappy that the online encyclopedia was not up for sale.
"I think Elon is unhappy that Wikipedia is not for sale. I hope his campaign to defund us results in lots of donations from people who care about the truth. If Elon wanted to help, he'd be encouraging kind and thoughtful intellectual people he agrees with to engage," said Wales.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Musk’s satirical post comes after the Tesla boss sparked a massive controversy on January 20 by raising his right arm in the air while thanking Trump’s supporters.

Amid the ‘Nazi salute’ row surrounding US billionaire Elon Musk, the X boss said Friday he would ‘lose his mind’ if he saw another post featuring his raised-arm gesture on his feed. "If I see one more damn Nazi salute in my feed, I’m gonna lose my mind,” Musk wrote, slamming the X algorithm. “This algorithm sucks!!" If I see one more damn Nazi salute in my feed, I’m gonna lose my mind 🤪 This algorithm sucks!! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 24, 2025 Musk’s satirical post comes after the Tesla boss sparked a massive controversy on January 20 by raising his right arm in the air while thanking Trump’s supporters. The gesture, his critics said, resembled a Nazi salute. Responding to his criticism on X Musk wrote, “The radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi." He also said in another X post that his critics needed “better dirty tricks” to attack him. Netanyahu comes to rescue Amid the controversy, Musk saw support from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday (Jan 23), who stressed the tech mogul was being "falsely smeared". “Elon is a great friend of Israel," wrote the PM of the Jewish nation. .@elonmusk is being falsely smeared. Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s… https://t.co/VkBptanDmp — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 23, 2025 Also read: 'Great friend of Israel': Netanyahu defends Elon Musk after his 'Nazi' salute Netanyahu added that Musk had "repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel's right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state." ‘Defund Wikipedia’ Musk also went all guns blazing against Wikipedia for labelling his hand gesture as a "Nazi" or "fascist" salute. "Since legacy media propaganda is considered a 'valid' source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!" the billionaire wrote on X. Also read: Let's call a spade a f***king spade: Musk's transgender daughter reacts to father's 'Nazi salute' claims He also urged his supporters to "defund Wikipedia until balance is restored." Defund Wikipedia until balance is restored! https://t.co/CIszNP5Pvc — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025 Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales was quick to retaliate, saying Musk was unhappy that the online encyclopedia was not up for sale. "I think Elon is unhappy that Wikipedia is not for sale. I hope his campaign to defund us results in lots of donations from people who care about the truth. If Elon wanted to help, he'd be encouraging kind and thoughtful intellectual people he agrees with to engage," said Wales. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Algorithm sucks,’ Musk says he will ‘lose his mind’ over ‘Nazi salute’ posts on his X feed

Tech billionaire and Donald Trump's cabinet member Elon Musk is continuing to face criticism over his hand gesture during a celebration of Trump's inauguration which drew online comparisons to a "Nazi salute." 
Musk dismissed criticism of the hand gesture as a "tired" attack.
Now, Musk's estranged daughter Vivian Wilson, who came out as transgender, has addressed the accusations surrounding her father's hand gesture during the event on Monday (January 21).&nbsp;
<h2>'Let's call a spade a f***ing spade'</h2>
In a series of posts on Instagram's platform Threads, Wilson, 18, appeared to reference the incident surrounding her father's alleged "Nazi salute."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-officials-considering-selling-tiktok-us-to-elon-musk-to-avoid-potential-ban-report-8620575" rel="dofollow">China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk amid ban threat, ByteDance denies rumours</a>
In the posts, Wilson did not name her father but hinted that she was responding to Monday's incident.
"I am just gonna say let's call a spade a f***ing spade," the 18-year-old said. &ldquo;Especially if there were two spades done in succession based on the reaction of the first spade,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;
In a follow-up post on Threads, Wilson appeared to hit back at claims on social media that Musk's gesture could be explained because of his autism.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-inauguration-from-elon-musks-nazi-salute-to-mark-zuckerbergs-bad-boy-moment-these-are-the-viral-moments-you-cannot-miss-8640494" rel="dofollow">Trump inauguration: From Elon Musk's Nazi salute to Mark Zuckerberg's 'bad boy' moment, these are the viral instances you cannot miss</a>
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know why ya&rsquo;ll are reacting with such vigour, I&rsquo;m clearly only talking about card suits,&rdquo; Wilson said.
&ldquo;I mean I have ADHD and this was CLEARLY just an accident that people happened to interpret to mean something other than just card suits. After all, there&rsquo;s no proof I&rsquo;m not just talking about card suits.&nbsp;People assuming that I&rsquo;m not just talking about card suits just goes to show how dishonest people/the media can be," she added.
<h2>The hand gesture that sparked the controversy</h2>
During a celebration of Trump's inauguration, Musk took to the Capital One Arena stage in Washington to huge cheers, pumping his arms and shouting, "Yesssss."
Also watch | Musk supports alleged Andrew Tate's controversial bid for UK PM
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1101_wion_ELON_2PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1101_wion_ELON_2PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=138&amp;tags=Elon Musk sex trafficker" title="Elon Musk supports alleged sex trafficker Andrew Tate's controversial bid for UK PM" id="PL_iframe_block-m69f60e3-xbxql6ec-zvdaa1da"></iframe>
"This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilisation," he said. "This one really mattered. Thank you for making it happen! Thank you."
Biting his bottom lip, he thumped his right hand over his heart, fingers spread wide, then extended his right arm out, emphatically, at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. Then he turned and made the same hand gesture to the crowd behind him.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-nazi-salute-elon-musk-stirs-massive-controversy-during-speech-following-trump-inauguration-8639007" rel="dofollow">A Nazi salute? Elon Musk stirs massive controversy during speech following Trump inauguration</a>
"My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured," he said as he finished the gesture.
(With inputs from agencies)
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World: Musk's estranged daughter Vivian Wilson, who came out as transgender, has addressed the accusations surrounding her father's hand gesture during the event on Monday.

Tech billionaire and Donald Trump's cabinet member Elon Musk is continuing to face criticism over his hand gesture during a celebration of Trump's inauguration which drew online comparisons to a "Nazi salute." Musk dismissed criticism of the hand gesture as a "tired" attack. Now, Musk's estranged daughter Vivian Wilson, who came out as transgender, has addressed the accusations surrounding her father's hand gesture during the event on Monday (January 21). 'Let's call a spade a f***ing spade' In a series of posts on Instagram's platform Threads, Wilson, 18, appeared to reference the incident surrounding her father's alleged "Nazi salute." Also read | China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk amid ban threat, ByteDance denies rumours In the posts, Wilson did not name her father but hinted that she was responding to Monday's incident. "I am just gonna say let's call a spade a f***ing spade," the 18-year-old said. “Especially if there were two spades done in succession based on the reaction of the first spade,” she added. In a follow-up post on Threads, Wilson appeared to hit back at claims on social media that Musk's gesture could be explained because of his autism. Also read | Trump inauguration: From Elon Musk's Nazi salute to Mark Zuckerberg's 'bad boy' moment, these are the viral instances you cannot miss “I don’t know why ya’ll are reacting with such vigour, I’m clearly only talking about card suits,” Wilson said. “I mean I have ADHD and this was CLEARLY just an accident that people happened to interpret to mean something other than just card suits. After all, there’s no proof I’m not just talking about card suits. People assuming that I’m not just talking about card suits just goes to show how dishonest people/the media can be," she added. The hand gesture that sparked the controversy During a celebration of Trump's inauguration, Musk took to the Capital One Arena stage in Washington to huge cheers, pumping his arms and shouting, "Yesssss." Also watch | Musk supports alleged Andrew Tate's controversial bid for UK PM "This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilisation," he said. "This one really mattered. Thank you for making it happen! Thank you." Biting his bottom lip, he thumped his right hand over his heart, fingers spread wide, then extended his right arm out, emphatically, at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. Then he turned and made the same hand gesture to the crowd behind him. Also read | A Nazi salute? Elon Musk stirs massive controversy during speech following Trump inauguration "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured," he said as he finished the gesture. (With inputs from agencies)

Let's call a spade a f***king spade: Musk's transgender daughter reacts to father's 'Nazi salute' claims

After Elon Musk was brutally trolled for his "Nazi salute" on January 20 while addressing Donald Trump's supporters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came in defence of the billionaire. The Jewish leader took to X on Thursday (Jan 23) and said that Musk is "being falsely smeared".&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/jeff-bezos-fiancee-lauren-s&aacute;nchez-has-this-to-say-to-trolls-who-didnt-like-her-trump-inauguration-outfit-8647066">Jeff Bezos' fiancee Lauren S&aacute;nchez has THIS to say to trolls who didn't like her Trump inauguration outfit</a>
While claiming that Elon Musk is a "great friend" of Israel, Netanyahu wrote, "He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre, in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel&rsquo;s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the only Jewish state."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m69f4cob-cf4b35c9-jszf5yfk">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> is being falsely smeared. Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel&rsquo;s&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/VkBptanDmp">https://t.co/VkBptanDmp</a>
&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1882392668497756279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
He ended the tweet by thanking Musk for his support to the Jewish nation.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-doug-emhoff-kamala-harris-divorce-2024-presidential-election-dead-weight-8647124">Is Kamala Harris getting divorce? Ex-US VP calls husband 'dead weight' and blames him for election loss: Report</a>
<h2>The 'Nazi' salute&nbsp;</h2>
The well-known ally of US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, sparked a major controversy on Trump's inaugural day while addressing the crowd. During the speech, Musk pounded his chest and raised his right hand in support of Trump's supporters. The video was soon widely circulated on the internet, and critics accused that his gesture resembled the Nazi salute.&nbsp;
Musk was greatly criticised by netizens, as one of the X users wrote, "I'm shocked by Musk's autocratic tendencies, as well as his support for imperious politicians both here and abroad."
<h2>'Everyone is Hitler'</h2>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-military-chief-herzi-halevi-resigns-over-failure-to-prevent-oct-7-hamas-attack-8642668">Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi resigns over failure to prevent Oct 7 Hamas attack</a>
After receiving tons of backlash on the internet, Musk replied to the critics with a post on X in which he criticised people who accused him of showing a Nazi salute and said his haters need "better dirty tricks".
The Tesla CEO, who is now handling the DOGE under Trump, further wrote, "The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is so tired."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m69f4tbl-w2qgn31h-p7phm5cs">
Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The &ldquo;everyone is Hitler&rdquo; attack is sooo tired 😴 <a href="https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0">https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881536518206218445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/pakistani-lawmakers-demand-elon-musks-apology-before-starlink-licence-approval-report-8647766">Pakistani lawmakers demand 'apology' from Elon Musk before Starlink licence approval: Report</a>
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World | Trending | The well-known ally of US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk sparked major controversy on the internet on Trump's inaugural day while addressing the crowd. 

After Elon Musk was brutally trolled for his "Nazi salute" on January 20 while addressing Donald Trump's supporters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came in defence of the billionaire. The Jewish leader took to X on Thursday (Jan 23) and said that Musk is "being falsely smeared". Also read: Jeff Bezos' fiancee Lauren Sánchez has THIS to say to trolls who didn't like her Trump inauguration outfit While claiming that Elon Musk is a "great friend" of Israel, Netanyahu wrote, "He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre, in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the only Jewish state." .@elonmusk is being falsely smeared. Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s… https://t.co/VkBptanDmp — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 23, 2025 He ended the tweet by thanking Musk for his support to the Jewish nation. Also read: Is Kamala Harris getting divorce? Ex-US VP calls husband 'dead weight' and blames him for election loss: Report The 'Nazi' salute The well-known ally of US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, sparked a major controversy on Trump's inaugural day while addressing the crowd. During the speech, Musk pounded his chest and raised his right hand in support of Trump's supporters. The video was soon widely circulated on the internet, and critics accused that his gesture resembled the Nazi salute. Musk was greatly criticised by netizens, as one of the X users wrote, "I'm shocked by Musk's autocratic tendencies, as well as his support for imperious politicians both here and abroad." 'Everyone is Hitler' Also read: Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi resigns over failure to prevent Oct 7 Hamas attack After receiving tons of backlash on the internet, Musk replied to the critics with a post on X in which he criticised people who accused him of showing a Nazi salute and said his haters need "better dirty tricks". The Tesla CEO, who is now handling the DOGE under Trump, further wrote, "The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is so tired." Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired 😴 https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025 Also read: Pakistani lawmakers demand 'apology' from Elon Musk before Starlink licence approval: Report (With inputs from agencies)

'Great friend of Israel': Netanyahu defends Elon Musk after his 'Nazi' salute

Donald Trump’s ambitious $500 billion AI initiative, "Stargate," has ignited a public war of words between tech giants Elon Musk and Sam Altman, creating tension in the AI community. The project is poised to reshape the AI landscape, but Musk and Altman’s differing views on the technology’s future have added fuel to the fire.

Donald Trump’s $500 billion AI project 'stargate' sparks feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman

Pakistani senators are calling for an apology from billionaire <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/elon-musk" rel="dofollow">Elon Musk</a>, accusing him of spreading "anti-Pakistan propaganda" as he seeks regulatory approval for his Starlink internet service in the country.
Musk's Starlink has applied for a licence to operate in Pakistan, but clearance is pending. A senate committee on information technology and telecommunications met to discuss the application, but several senators condemned Musk's recent comments on his social media platform X, denouncing them as "anti-Pakistani propaganda".
"It was said that approval should be given on condition of his apology," Committee chair Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan Khan told AFP.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/linkedin-premium-users-data-leak-privacy-breach-personal-messages-shared-with-third-parties-ai-training-us-lawsuit-against-linkedin-8647737">LinkedIn is sharing users data with third parties to train AI: US lawsuit alleges</a>
"We are not saying it should be a pre-condition but it was a part of the discussion and we can only give our recommendations to the government," she added.
Musk has allegedly claimed in many of his social media posts that Pakistani men were responsible for grooming gangs in England. Earlier an Indian MP Priyanka Chaturvedi in a post on X said, "They aren't ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs. Why should Asians take the fall for one absolute rogue nation?"
Musk responded to the post in agreement writing, "True".
<h2>UK launches fresh probe into grooming gang scandal</h2>
The UK government has announced a fresh investigation into the grooming gangs scandal, after a public feud between Musk and UK Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/keir-starmer" rel="dofollow">Keir Starmer</a> over the same. Reacting to the announcement, Musk posted on X, "I hope this is a proper investigation."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-cryptic-warning-to-biden-shouldve-given-himself-a-pardon-8646564">Donald Trump's cryptic warning to Biden: 'Should've given himself a pardon'</a>
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper announcing the fresh probes said, &ldquo;As we have seen, effective local inquiries can delve into far more local detail and deliver more locally relevant answers, and change, than a lengthy nationwide inquiry can provide.&rdquo;
The grooming gang scandal involves sex offences going back decades against British girls by men of mostly South Asian origin in various northern English towns.
(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan, South Asia: A senate committee on information technology and telecommunications met to discuss the application, but several senators condemned Musk's recent comments on his social media platform X, denouncing them as "anti-Pakistani propaganda".

Pakistani senators are calling for an apology from billionaire Elon Musk, accusing him of spreading "anti-Pakistan propaganda" as he seeks regulatory approval for his Starlink internet service in the country. Musk's Starlink has applied for a licence to operate in Pakistan, but clearance is pending. A senate committee on information technology and telecommunications met to discuss the application, but several senators condemned Musk's recent comments on his social media platform X, denouncing them as "anti-Pakistani propaganda". "It was said that approval should be given on condition of his apology," Committee chair Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan Khan told AFP. Also read: LinkedIn is sharing users data with third parties to train AI: US lawsuit alleges "We are not saying it should be a pre-condition but it was a part of the discussion and we can only give our recommendations to the government," she added. Musk has allegedly claimed in many of his social media posts that Pakistani men were responsible for grooming gangs in England. Earlier an Indian MP Priyanka Chaturvedi in a post on X said, "They aren't ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs. Why should Asians take the fall for one absolute rogue nation?" Musk responded to the post in agreement writing, "True". UK launches fresh probe into grooming gang scandal The UK government has announced a fresh investigation into the grooming gangs scandal, after a public feud between Musk and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the same. Reacting to the announcement, Musk posted on X, "I hope this is a proper investigation." Also read: Donald Trump's cryptic warning to Biden: 'Should've given himself a pardon' Interior Minister Yvette Cooper announcing the fresh probes said, “As we have seen, effective local inquiries can delve into far more local detail and deliver more locally relevant answers, and change, than a lengthy nationwide inquiry can provide.” The grooming gang scandal involves sex offences going back decades against British girls by men of mostly South Asian origin in various northern English towns. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistani lawmakers demand 'apology' from Elon Musk before Starlink licence approval: Report

Vivek Ramaswamy has stated he will not serve in a potential Trump administration. Reports indicate Ramaswamy’s exit was triggered by his comments on H-1B visa debacle. Ramaswamy criticised American culture, hiring practices regarding H-1B visa program….Watch to know more!

Was Vivek Ramaswamy’s exit triggered by his comments on H-1B?

In order to avoid a potential ban in the United States, Chinese officials are considering a contingency plan that would involve selling TikTok's US operations to Elon Musk, said a Bloomberg report.
The report further said that the first preference of the Chinese officials will be to keep the short-form video hosting platform under the control of parent company ByteDance, however, they are exploring other contingencies if that cannot be achieved.
One of the scenarios will be to let Musk's microblogging site X take charge of TikTok US and run the business with him.&nbsp;
The Chinese officials, however, are reportedly still in the early stages of discussion and have not yet reached a firm consensus on the best course of action.
A TikTok spokesperson has denied rumours about Musk buying the popular app, labelling them "pure fiction". When asked to comment on the potential sale, they said, "We can't be expected to comment on pure fiction."
ByteDance is contesting the ban against TikTok in the US Supreme Court. As per the recent developments, there is a possibility that the judges will uphold any potential ban on the short video platform.
The Supreme Court had given a January 19 deadline to ByteDance that the company should either sell TikTok or face a ban in the country on the grounds of national security.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/truly-evil-guy-trumps-former-advisor-steve-bannon-vows-to-take-elon-musk-down-before-inauguration-day-8613853">Also read: 'Truly evil guy': Trump&rsquo;s ex-aide Steve Bannon vows to take Elon Musk down before inauguration day</a>
<h2>Trump urges US Supreme Court to pause TikTok ban ahead of inauguration&nbsp;</h2>
Then US President-elect Donald Trump had urged the Supreme Court to delay its decision.
In a legal brief, Trump's team argued for "more breathing space".
"In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues," Trump's legal team wrote, urging the court to give him "the opportunity to pursue a political resolution."
In his filing, Trump's attorney emphasised that the president-elect is not taking a position on the case's legal merits but is seeking flexibility for his administration to address the matter politically.&nbsp;
"President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute," wrote John Sauer in the amicus curiae brief.
"Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump's incoming administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case."
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;
Disclaimer: An earlier version of this story reported that China was considering selling TikTok US to Elon Musk. However, as per a fact-check by Fact Crescendo, the claim was found false. The article has, hence, been updated

World | Trending: The first preference of Chinese officials will be to keep the short-form video hosting platform under the control of parent company ByteDance, however, they are exploring other contingencies if that cannot be achieved.

In order to avoid a potential ban in the United States, Chinese officials are considering a contingency plan that would involve selling TikTok's US operations to Elon Musk, said a Bloomberg report. The report further said that the first preference of the Chinese officials will be to keep the short-form video hosting platform under the control of parent company ByteDance, however, they are exploring other contingencies if that cannot be achieved. One of the scenarios will be to let Musk's microblogging site X take charge of TikTok US and run the business with him. The Chinese officials, however, are reportedly still in the early stages of discussion and have not yet reached a firm consensus on the best course of action. A TikTok spokesperson has denied rumours about Musk buying the popular app, labelling them "pure fiction". When asked to comment on the potential sale, they said, "We can't be expected to comment on pure fiction." ByteDance is contesting the ban against TikTok in the US Supreme Court. As per the recent developments, there is a possibility that the judges will uphold any potential ban on the short video platform. The Supreme Court had given a January 19 deadline to ByteDance that the company should either sell TikTok or face a ban in the country on the grounds of national security. Also read: 'Truly evil guy': Trump’s ex-aide Steve Bannon vows to take Elon Musk down before inauguration day Trump urges US Supreme Court to pause TikTok ban ahead of inauguration Then US President-elect Donald Trump had urged the Supreme Court to delay its decision. In a legal brief, Trump's team argued for "more breathing space". "In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues," Trump's legal team wrote, urging the court to give him "the opportunity to pursue a political resolution." In his filing, Trump's attorney emphasised that the president-elect is not taking a position on the case's legal merits but is seeking flexibility for his administration to address the matter politically. "President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute," wrote John Sauer in the amicus curiae brief. "Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump's incoming administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case." (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: An earlier version of this story reported that China was considering selling TikTok US to Elon Musk. However, as per a fact-check by Fact Crescendo, the claim was found false. The article has, hence, been updated

China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk amid ban threat, ByteDance denies rumours

US President Donald Trump announced major investment to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence worth over $500 billion. However, just hours later the plan's feasibility was being questioned by his Ally and friend Elon Musk. Watch in for more details!

Elon Musk casts doubt on Trump-backed deal

The highest-earning internet creator and YouTube star, MrBeast, has officially joined a bid to buy <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tiktok" rel="dofollow">TikTok</a>'s US operations amid the ongoing row between China-based social media app TikTok and the US.&nbsp;
This comes as the renewed 75-day time limit ticks down on TikTok to find a non-Chinese owner or will have to face a ban in America.&nbsp;
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, joined tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the online HR company employer.com, to make an all-cash offer for the social video app&rsquo;s American unit.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-backs-elon-musk-as-potential-buyer-for-tiktok-amid-ongoing-us-ban-threat-8642536" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump says 'open' to Elon Musk buying TikTok</a>
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that he was open to the US tech billionaires Elon Musk and Larry Ellison buying TikTok in the US.
The US law firm Paul Hastings announced Donaldson's bid in a statement issued on Tuesday, stating that Tinsley was leading an investor group comprising &ldquo;institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals&rdquo; but Donaldson was the only publicly named member of the group.
However, the statement did not reveal the size of the all-cash bid, but Trump put a value of $1 trillion (&pound;811 billion) on the app on Tuesday.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-signs-executive-order-to-delay-tiktok-ban-in-us-8639173" rel="dofollow">Trump signs executive order to delay TikTok ban in US by 75 days</a>
Earlier also, MrBeast has shown interest in acquiring TikTok in a number of social media posts.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll buy TikTok so it doesn&rsquo;t get banned," MrBeast said in a post on X on January 13. In another post, he said that he had been talking to a &ldquo;bunch of billionaires&rdquo; about a bid.
MrBeast, who has a fan base of 346 million followers on YouTube, was the world&rsquo;s most successful internet creator last year, earning USD 85 million, according to Forbes.&nbsp;
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-returns-in-us-thanks-trump-for-clarity-and-assurance-on-delaying-federal-ban-8635954" rel="dofollow"> TikTok returns in US, thanks Trump for 'clarity' and assurance on delaying federal ban</a>
Trump on Tuesday expressed openness to his close ally tech billionaire Elon Musk acquiring TikTok, saying, "I would be if he wanted to buy it."
Moreover, the US President on Monday also proposed alternative solutions, including a 50-50 partnership between ByteDance and "the United States." However, he provided no specifics on how such an arrangement would operate, according to an AFP report.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: MrBeast joined tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the online HR company employer.com, to make an all-cash offer for the social video app’s American unit.

The highest-earning internet creator and YouTube star, MrBeast, has officially joined a bid to buy TikTok's US operations amid the ongoing row between China-based social media app TikTok and the US. This comes as the renewed 75-day time limit ticks down on TikTok to find a non-Chinese owner or will have to face a ban in America. MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, joined tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the online HR company employer.com, to make an all-cash offer for the social video app’s American unit. Also read: Donald Trump says 'open' to Elon Musk buying TikTok Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that he was open to the US tech billionaires Elon Musk and Larry Ellison buying TikTok in the US. The US law firm Paul Hastings announced Donaldson's bid in a statement issued on Tuesday, stating that Tinsley was leading an investor group comprising “institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals” but Donaldson was the only publicly named member of the group. However, the statement did not reveal the size of the all-cash bid, but Trump put a value of $1 trillion (£811 billion) on the app on Tuesday. Also read: Trump signs executive order to delay TikTok ban in US by 75 days Earlier also, MrBeast has shown interest in acquiring TikTok in a number of social media posts. “I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned," MrBeast said in a post on X on January 13. In another post, he said that he had been talking to a “bunch of billionaires” about a bid. MrBeast, who has a fan base of 346 million followers on YouTube, was the world’s most successful internet creator last year, earning USD 85 million, according to Forbes. Also read: TikTok returns in US, thanks Trump for 'clarity' and assurance on delaying federal ban Trump on Tuesday expressed openness to his close ally tech billionaire Elon Musk acquiring TikTok, saying, "I would be if he wanted to buy it." Moreover, the US President on Monday also proposed alternative solutions, including a 50-50 partnership between ByteDance and "the United States." However, he provided no specifics on how such an arrangement would operate, according to an AFP report. (With inputs from agencies)

YouTuber MrBeast joins bid to buy TikTok's US operations amid 75-day deadline

US President Donald Trump's billionaire ally Elon Musk stirred a major controversy on Monday (Jan 20) over his gesture, which many said resembled a Nazi salute.
While addressing the supporters of the Republican leader at the Capital One arena, the Tesla CEO pounded his chest and raised his right arm in the air while thanking Trump&rsquo;s supporters.
The salute kicked up a row in Trump's UN ambassador pick confirmation hearing as well where she seemingly defended the Tesla CEO over the gesture and denied that Musk gave a 'Nazi' salute.
&ldquo;What do you think of Elon Musk, perhaps the president&rsquo;s most visible adviser, doing two &lsquo;Heil Hitler&rdquo; salutes last night at the president&rsquo;s televised rally?&rdquo; Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy asked Stefanik.&nbsp;
&ldquo;No, Elon Musk did not do those salutes,&rdquo; Stefanik answered. &ldquo;I was not at the rally, but I can tell you I&rsquo;ve been at many rallies with Elon Musk, who loves to cheer when President Trump says &lsquo;We need to send our U.S. space programme to Mars.&rsquo;&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Elon Musk is a visionary,&rdquo; Stefanik continued. &ldquo;That is simply not the case. The American people are smart, they see through it, they support Elon Musk.&rdquo;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-nazi-salute-elon-musk-stirs-massive-controversy-during-speech-following-trump-inauguration-8639007">Also read: A Nazi salute? Elon Musk stirs massive controversy during speech following Trump inauguration</a>
<h2>Musk reacts to salute row</h2>
After the billionaire's 'Nazi' salute went viral on Monday, he said his rivals needed "better dirty" tricks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m67txr1d-jurk6lxq-dividm19">
Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The &ldquo;everyone is Hitler&rdquo; attack is sooo tired 😴 <a href="https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0">https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881536518206218445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Reactions on social media</h2>
Users on social media criticised Musk, the world's richest man, for his "autocratic tendencies".
"He's such a weird man, why put him in front of a crowd just take his money and keep him in the back," one user wrote.
"I'm totally shocked by Musk's autocratic tendencies, as well as his support for imperious politicians both here and abroad," a second user commented.
(With inputs from agencies)

World news: During his speech, Musk pounded his chest and raised his right arm in the air while thanking Trump’s supporters. The gesture, his critics said, resembled a Nazi salute.

US President Donald Trump's billionaire ally Elon Musk stirred a major controversy on Monday (Jan 20) over his gesture, which many said resembled a Nazi salute. While addressing the supporters of the Republican leader at the Capital One arena, the Tesla CEO pounded his chest and raised his right arm in the air while thanking Trump’s supporters. The salute kicked up a row in Trump's UN ambassador pick confirmation hearing as well where she seemingly defended the Tesla CEO over the gesture and denied that Musk gave a 'Nazi' salute. “What do you think of Elon Musk, perhaps the president’s most visible adviser, doing two ‘Heil Hitler” salutes last night at the president’s televised rally?” Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy asked Stefanik. “No, Elon Musk did not do those salutes,” Stefanik answered. “I was not at the rally, but I can tell you I’ve been at many rallies with Elon Musk, who loves to cheer when President Trump says ‘We need to send our U.S. space programme to Mars.’” “Elon Musk is a visionary,” Stefanik continued. “That is simply not the case. The American people are smart, they see through it, they support Elon Musk.” Also read: A Nazi salute? Elon Musk stirs massive controversy during speech following Trump inauguration Musk reacts to salute row After the billionaire's 'Nazi' salute went viral on Monday, he said his rivals needed "better dirty" tricks. Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired 😴 https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025 Reactions on social media Users on social media criticised Musk, the world's richest man, for his "autocratic tendencies". "He's such a weird man, why put him in front of a crowd just take his money and keep him in the back," one user wrote. "I'm totally shocked by Musk's autocratic tendencies, as well as his support for imperious politicians both here and abroad," a second user commented. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump UN Ambassador pick Elise Stefanik slams Musk 'Nazi salute' allegations

Elon Musk's hand gesture while he spoke during a celebration of President Donald Trump's inauguration drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute. Watch this report for more details!

Elon Musk's hand gesture during Trump inauguration sparks 'Nazi salute' debate | Gravitas

US President Donald Trump has dismissed Admiral Linda Lee Fagan, the head of the US Coast Guard, citing her excessive emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Fagan, who made history as the first woman to lead a branch of the US Armed Forces, was removed from her position on Tuesday. This comes after Trump said that he would eliminate DEI programs across federal agencies.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-border-tom-homan-nationwide-immigration-raids-overturns-biden-era-ban-on-targeting-schools-hospitals-8642092" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Enforcing the law like never before,' Trump border czar announces nationwide immigration raids&nbsp;starting&nbsp;today</a>
<h2>'DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable'</h2>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/elon-musk" rel="dofollow">Elon Musk</a>, a key adviser to Trump&rsquo;s administration and head of its cost-cutting efforts, hinted at the dismissal in a post on X (formerly Twitter). While not directly confirming the decision, Musk criticised DEI efforts, stating, &ldquo;Undermining the US military and border security to spend money on racist/sexist DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m66riipn-9cz3j4us-fd64c9ef">
Undermining the US military and border security to spend money on racist/sexist DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable <a href="https://t.co/IPoDv5odP8">https://t.co/IPoDv5odP8</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881711470561665304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
According to Fox News, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security said that Fagan&rsquo;s removal stemmed from concerns about border security, recruitment challenges, and a perceived "erosion of trust." The report also highlighted her alleged failure to address border security threats, staff retention issues, and mismanagement in acquisitions, as well as her focus on DEI initiatives.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/following-scholzs-remarks-about-musk-at-wef-billionaire-calls-german-chancellor-oaf-schitz-8642037" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Following Scholz's remarks about Musk at WEF, billionaire calls German chancellor 'Oaf Schitz'</a>
Admiral Fagan, appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2021, made history as the first female uniformed leader of a US Armed Forces branch. In June, she penned a Pride Month tribute encouraging Americans to &ldquo;live their truth.&rdquo; She also emphasised the value of diverse teams in a 2023 interview with Military Families Magazine, saying, that they possess a &ldquo;deeper strength of thought&rdquo; compared to more homogenous groups.
However, her tenure was not without controversy. Lawmakers had accused the Coast Guard under her leadership of facing ongoing and significant issues related to sexual harassment claims.
Trump&rsquo;s swift action against Fagan is part of a broader effort to undo <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/joe-biden" rel="dofollow">Biden</a>-era policies. The president has vowed to &ldquo;identify and remove&rdquo; over a thousand appointees from the previous administration.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Admiral Linda Lee Fagan who made history as the first woman to lead a branch of the US Armed Forces, was removed from her position on Tuesday. 

US President Donald Trump has dismissed Admiral Linda Lee Fagan, the head of the US Coast Guard, citing her excessive emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Fagan, who made history as the first woman to lead a branch of the US Armed Forces, was removed from her position on Tuesday. This comes after Trump said that he would eliminate DEI programs across federal agencies. Also read: 'Enforcing the law like never before,' Trump border czar announces nationwide immigration raids starting today 'DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable' Elon Musk, a key adviser to Trump’s administration and head of its cost-cutting efforts, hinted at the dismissal in a post on X (formerly Twitter). While not directly confirming the decision, Musk criticised DEI efforts, stating, “Undermining the US military and border security to spend money on racist/sexist DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable.” Undermining the US military and border security to spend money on racist/sexist DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable https://t.co/IPoDv5odP8 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025 According to Fox News, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security said that Fagan’s removal stemmed from concerns about border security, recruitment challenges, and a perceived "erosion of trust." The report also highlighted her alleged failure to address border security threats, staff retention issues, and mismanagement in acquisitions, as well as her focus on DEI initiatives. Also read: Following Scholz's remarks about Musk at WEF, billionaire calls German chancellor 'Oaf Schitz' Admiral Fagan, appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2021, made history as the first female uniformed leader of a US Armed Forces branch. In June, she penned a Pride Month tribute encouraging Americans to “live their truth.” She also emphasised the value of diverse teams in a 2023 interview with Military Families Magazine, saying, that they possess a “deeper strength of thought” compared to more homogenous groups. However, her tenure was not without controversy. Lawmakers had accused the Coast Guard under her leadership of facing ongoing and significant issues related to sexual harassment claims. Trump’s swift action against Fagan is part of a broader effort to undo Biden-era policies. The president has vowed to “identify and remove” over a thousand appointees from the previous administration. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Racist, sexist diversity nonsense’: Trump fires first female Coast Guard chief, Admiral Linda Lee Fagan

The war of words between tech billionaire Elon Musk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is intensifying as the days pass.
On Tuesday (Jan 21), Musk and Scholz had yet another squabble. Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, German Chancellor Scholz criticised Musk's support for extreme right positions.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-nazi-salute-elon-musk-stirs-massive-controversy-during-speech-following-trump-inauguration-8639007" rel="dofollow">A Nazi salute? Elon Musk stirs massive controversy during speech following Trump inauguration</a>
"We have freedom of speech in Europe and Germany. Everyone can say what they want even if they're billionaires. What we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme right positions."
The German chancellor's remarks came after Musk backed Germany's far-right AfD party.&nbsp;
<h2>Musk hits back, calls Scholz THIS</h2>
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk hit out at Scholz by calling the German chancellor "Oaf Schitz."
"Shame on Oaf Schitz!" Musk wrote in the post after Scholz said freedom of speech should not support extreme-right views.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Shame on Oaf Schitz! <a href="https://t.co/xtdW8D6FTo">https://t.co/xtdW8D6FTo</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881707490762731984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

Musk has shown a particular interest in Germany where he opened Tesla's first European plant in 2022.&nbsp;
Musk introduced the AfD's chancellor candidate Alice Weidel, whose party is second in polls but has almost no chance of forming a government due to other parties' refusal to work with it, as "the leading candidate to run Germany."
<h2>'Musk supports the far-right everywhere...'</h2>
A few days back, Olaf Scholz said that Musk supported the far-right everywhere in Europe.&nbsp;
"And that is something that is completely unacceptable. It endangers the democratic development of Europe, it endangers our community and that must be criticised," Scholz said during a joint presser with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-loses-confidence-vote-early-election-set-for-february-23-784451" rel="dofollow">German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote, early election set for February 23</a>
"His partisanship in favour of the extreme right, whether for business interests or for reasons that have something to do with his own political views, is unacceptable,&rdquo; the German chancellor added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Musk has shown a particular interest in Germany where he opened Tesla's first European plant in 2022. He has backed Germany's far-right AfD party, which has sparked concerns.

The war of words between tech billionaire Elon Musk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is intensifying as the days pass. On Tuesday (Jan 21), Musk and Scholz had yet another squabble. Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, German Chancellor Scholz criticised Musk's support for extreme right positions. Also read | A Nazi salute? Elon Musk stirs massive controversy during speech following Trump inauguration "We have freedom of speech in Europe and Germany. Everyone can say what they want even if they're billionaires. What we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme right positions." The German chancellor's remarks came after Musk backed Germany's far-right AfD party. Musk hits back, calls Scholz THIS In a post on his social media platform X, Musk hit out at Scholz by calling the German chancellor "Oaf Schitz." "Shame on Oaf Schitz!" Musk wrote in the post after Scholz said freedom of speech should not support extreme-right views. Shame on Oaf Schitz! https://t.co/xtdW8D6FTo — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025 Musk has shown a particular interest in Germany where he opened Tesla's first European plant in 2022. Musk introduced the AfD's chancellor candidate Alice Weidel, whose party is second in polls but has almost no chance of forming a government due to other parties' refusal to work with it, as "the leading candidate to run Germany." 'Musk supports the far-right everywhere...' A few days back, Olaf Scholz said that Musk supported the far-right everywhere in Europe. "And that is something that is completely unacceptable. It endangers the democratic development of Europe, it endangers our community and that must be criticised," Scholz said during a joint presser with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Also read | German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote, early election set for February 23 "His partisanship in favour of the extreme right, whether for business interests or for reasons that have something to do with his own political views, is unacceptable,” the German chancellor added. (With inputs from agencies)

Following Scholz's remarks about Musk at WEF, billionaire calls German chancellor 'Oaf Schitz'

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