Billionaire Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16.&nbsp;

The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians."

Musk's reaction came hours after the Australian government on Thursday (Nov 21), introduced the bill in parliament.&nbsp;

Australia introduced the bill highlighting the need for an age verification system. If implemented, this will be one of the strictest social media regulations in the world.&nbsp;

Companies found breaching the proposed regulation could be fined up to 32 million USD.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-king-charless-coronation-cost-uk-taxpayers-%C2%A372-million-778174">King Charles' coronation cost UK taxpayers £72 million</a>

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said in a statement that social media companies had a responsibility for the "safety and mental health" of Australians, AFP reported.&nbsp;

Australian tech companies said they will adhere to new regulations but also jointly suggested the government not to take any action too quickly, AFP reported.&nbsp;

"The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place," AFP quoted Rowland saying.&nbsp;

<h2>Not the first clash</h2>

Musk has a long history of clashing with the Australian&nbsp;government on social media policies.&nbsp;

In April 2024, an Australian cyber regulator asked Musk-owned platform, X, to remove posts about a stabbing incident.&nbsp;

When the platform refused the request, the Australian prime minister called Musk an "arrogant billionaire." Musk also hit back at the government calling its laws and policies "fascist."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-police-urge-bolsonaros-indictment-for-2022-coup-plot-778206">Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot</a>

Australia is not the first country to implement or introduce such a strict social media regulation.&nbsp;

Last year, France proposed a social media ban for children under 15, however, permitted parental consent.&nbsp;

The United States law requires parental consent if children under 13 want to access social media. 
&nbsp; 
Spain, in June 2024, passed a law banning social media access to those under the age of 16. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16. The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.

Billionaire Elon Musk slammed the Australian government for proposing a law banning social media for kids under 16. The X owner called the bill "a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians." Musk's reaction came hours after the Australian government on Thursday (Nov 21), introduced the bill in parliament. Australia introduced the bill highlighting the need for an age verification system. If implemented, this will be one of the strictest social media regulations in the world. Companies found breaching the proposed regulation could be fined up to 32 million USD. Also read | King Charles' coronation cost UK taxpayers £72 million Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said in a statement that social media companies had a responsibility for the "safety and mental health" of Australians, AFP reported. Australian tech companies said they will adhere to new regulations but also jointly suggested the government not to take any action too quickly, AFP reported. "The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place," AFP quoted Rowland saying. Not the first clash Musk has a long history of clashing with the Australian government on social media policies. In April 2024, an Australian cyber regulator asked Musk-owned platform, X, to remove posts about a stabbing incident. When the platform refused the request, the Australian prime minister called Musk an "arrogant billionaire." Musk also hit back at the government calling its laws and policies "fascist." Also read | Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot Australia is not the first country to implement or introduce such a strict social media regulation. Last year, France proposed a social media ban for children under 15, however, permitted parental consent. The United States law requires parental consent if children under 13 want to access social media. Spain, in June 2024, passed a law banning social media access to those under the age of 16. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk slams Australia's proposed social media ban for children

US President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have been inseparable, Since Trump's election victory weeks ago. The SpaceX CEO has accompanied Trump for family meals, meetings with congressional Republicans, and also a UFC fight. But the recent outing, at Musk's SpaceX rocket launch in Texas has raised eyebrows.

Rift Between Donald Trump's Team and Elon Musk? | GRAVITAS

US: Donald Trump & Elon Musk's Body Language Raises Eyebrows

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk - who have been picked by President-elect Donald Trump to run the newly formed task force to review government spending - have proposed to eliminate work-from-home facilities for federal workers.&nbsp;

The two entrepreneurs will be leading the newly formed&nbsp;“Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).&nbsp;

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy said that the elimination of the option of remote working will trigger mass resignations which will help them trim the size of the government and make it more smaller and efficient.

“Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” wrote Musk and Ramaswamy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tech-titans-and-trump-elon-musk-joins-as-sundar-pichai-dials-us-president-elect-777918">Tech titans and Trump: Elon Musk joins as Sundar Pichai dials US President-elect</a>

“If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home,” they further stated.&nbsp;

<h2>How the decision of work-from-office will likely impact the US govt?</h2>

Nearly 1.1 million federal employees, which is half of the civilian workforce of the government - have the facility of telework, as per the Office of Management and Budget.&nbsp;

Nearly 228,000 employees or 10 per cent of civilian personnel were working remotely with “no expectation that they [work] in-person on any regular or recurring basis” stated the agency in a report in August 2024.&nbsp;

The report came two years after President Biden, speaking in his 2022 State of the Union address,&nbsp;said, “The vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person.”

Watch:&nbsp;Donald Trump-Elon Musk Bonhomie

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Ramaswamy and Musk have said Trump has the authority to “curtail administrative overgrowth” through various means, which include “large-scale firings”, relocating “federal agencies out of the Washington area” and ending remote work.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The two said that the DOGE plans “to work with embedded appointees in agencies to identify the minimum number of employees required” for the agency to “perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions.”

They further said that the fired federal workers will be “treated with respect” and that “DOGE’s goal is to help support their transition into the private sector.”

“The president can use existing laws to give them incentives for early retirement and to make voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit,” they added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk - who have been picked by President-elect Donald Trump to run the newly formed task force to review government spending - have proposed to eliminate work-from-home facilities for federal workers.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk - who have been picked by President-elect Donald Trump to run the newly formed task force to review government spending - have proposed to eliminate work-from-home facilities for federal workers. The two entrepreneurs will be leading the newly formed “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy said that the elimination of the option of remote working will trigger mass resignations which will help them trim the size of the government and make it more smaller and efficient. “Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” wrote Musk and Ramaswamy. Also Read: Tech titans and Trump: Elon Musk joins as Sundar Pichai dials US President-elect “If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home,” they further stated. How the decision of work-from-office will likely impact the US govt? Nearly 1.1 million federal employees, which is half of the civilian workforce of the government - have the facility of telework, as per the Office of Management and Budget. Nearly 228,000 employees or 10 per cent of civilian personnel were working remotely with “no expectation that they [work] in-person on any regular or recurring basis” stated the agency in a report in August 2024. The report came two years after President Biden, speaking in his 2022 State of the Union address, said, “The vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person.” Watch: Donald Trump-Elon Musk Bonhomie Ramaswamy and Musk have said Trump has the authority to “curtail administrative overgrowth” through various means, which include “large-scale firings”, relocating “federal agencies out of the Washington area” and ending remote work. The two said that the DOGE plans “to work with embedded appointees in agencies to identify the minimum number of employees required” for the agency to “perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions.” They further said that the fired federal workers will be “treated with respect” and that “DOGE’s goal is to help support their transition into the private sector.” “The president can use existing laws to give them incentives for early retirement and to make voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit,” they added. (With inputs from agencies)

Musk and Ramaswamy led DOGE plan to stop work-from-home for federal employees

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, backed Donald Trump for US presidency online and on the ground. In return, he is being offered to run an agency of his own design to cut government spending. But it appears all is not well between the X owner and the incoming American president.

Eyebrows are being raised about the changed body language of the duo when Trump attended a launch event of SpaceX, owned by Musk, on Tuesday (Nov 19) in Texas.

Watch: Trump, Musk Solidify Bond With Texas Trip 
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Multiple media reports are speculating that the cause could be Musk's assertive and mercurial personality, and his claiming of credit for Trump's shock victory against Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.

The apparent coldness - or even anxiety- of Trump at the Tuesday SpaceX event comes amid Musk's reported arguments with other members of the Trump transition team.

Earlier, US media reports said that there was an argument at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida between Musk and Boris Epshteyn, a member of the Trump legal team.

Musk reportedly complained that Epshteyn was pushing people who were not qualified for jobs in the incoming Trump administration.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-trumps-inner-circle-cracking-musk-and-trumps-legal-adviser-had-a-blow-up-report-suggests-777218">Also read: Is Trump's inner circle cracking? Musk and Trump's legal adviser had a blow-up, report suggests</a>

It is also possible that Musk will differ on the issues of visas and migration with incoming deputy chief of policy, Stephen Miller, who is hawkish&nbsp;on immigration.

Miller was seen as the architect of the 'Muslim ban' in the first Trump administration.

NBC News reported citing sources that Musk was behaving like 'a co-president' and making&nbsp;Trump 'feel indebted' to him. That's not going to go down well with the Republican.

<h2>Body language expert breaks down lack of warmth between Trump and Musk</h2>

A report in the UK paper The Telegraph even employed a body language expert to examine the changed attitude of Trump towards Musk.

The expert, Darren Stanton, said Trump looked like a 'fish out of water' at the SpaceX event.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-wont-go-home-cant-get-rid-of-him-trump-says-after-billionaires-constant-presence-at-his-home-776219">Also read: 'Elon won't go home, can't get rid of him,' Trump says after billionaire's constant presence at his home</a> 
 
Trump 'kept his arms hanging limply at his side: an act of anxiety and awkwardness,' the paper cited Stanton, who found Trump to be "very uneasy… usually he comes over as this alpha male, the most empowered, most powerful person in the room."

"I think he’s quite intimidated by Musk...He was out of his depth – his hands were just by his side like a mannequin.”

The report said Trump's 'power gestures' characteristic of his alpha male persona were missing.

As Musk gestured across to Starship of SpaceX, the largest rocket ever built, Trump "buttoned up his jacket before checking each of his pockets",&nbsp;according to Stanton who suggested he was 'a little intimidated'.

Stanton claimed that the only other person Trump is similarly submissive to is Russian President Vladimir Putin. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, backed Donald Trump for US presidency online and on the ground. In return, he is being offered to run an agency of his own design to cut government spending.

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, backed Donald Trump for US presidency online and on the ground. In return, he is being offered to run an agency of his own design to cut government spending. But it appears all is not well between the X owner and the incoming American president. Eyebrows are being raised about the changed body language of the duo when Trump attended a launch event of SpaceX, owned by Musk, on Tuesday (Nov 19) in Texas. Watch: Trump, Musk Solidify Bond With Texas Trip × Multiple media reports are speculating that the cause could be Musk's assertive and mercurial personality, and his claiming of credit for Trump's shock victory against Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 5 election. The apparent coldness - or even anxiety- of Trump at the Tuesday SpaceX event comes amid Musk's reported arguments with other members of the Trump transition team. Earlier, US media reports said that there was an argument at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida between Musk and Boris Epshteyn, a member of the Trump legal team. Musk reportedly complained that Epshteyn was pushing people who were not qualified for jobs in the incoming Trump administration. Also read: Is Trump's inner circle cracking? Musk and Trump's legal adviser had a blow-up, report suggests It is also possible that Musk will differ on the issues of visas and migration with incoming deputy chief of policy, Stephen Miller, who is hawkish on immigration. Miller was seen as the architect of the 'Muslim ban' in the first Trump administration. NBC News reported citing sources that Musk was behaving like 'a co-president' and making Trump 'feel indebted' to him. That's not going to go down well with the Republican. Body language expert breaks down lack of warmth between Trump and Musk A report in the UK paper The Telegraph even employed a body language expert to examine the changed attitude of Trump towards Musk. The expert, Darren Stanton, said Trump looked like a 'fish out of water' at the SpaceX event. Also read: 'Elon won't go home, can't get rid of him,' Trump says after billionaire's constant presence at his home Trump 'kept his arms hanging limply at his side: an act of anxiety and awkwardness,' the paper cited Stanton, who found Trump to be "very uneasy… usually he comes over as this alpha male, the most empowered, most powerful person in the room." "I think he’s quite intimidated by Musk...He was out of his depth – his hands were just by his side like a mannequin.” The report said Trump's 'power gestures' characteristic of his alpha male persona were missing. As Musk gestured across to Starship of SpaceX, the largest rocket ever built, Trump "buttoned up his jacket before checking each of his pockets", according to Stanton who suggested he was 'a little intimidated'. Stanton claimed that the only other person Trump is similarly submissive to is Russian President Vladimir Putin. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk and Donald Trump - Is the honeymoon over already? Body language changes raise eyebrows

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, reportedly joined a private call between US President-elect Donald Trump and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. As reported by The Information, Sundar Pichai contacted Trump to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential race.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, reportedly joined a private call between US President-elect Donald Trump and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. As reported by The Information, Sundar Pichai contacted Trump to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential race. During this call, Musk was also on the line, listening in as Pichai spoke with the President-elect. Consistent figure around Trump In recent months, Musk has been a consistent figure around Trump, often seen at his Florida residence. Reports suggest Musk rarely leaves Trump’s side and has become an influential advisor to the President-elect. Musk, who acquired X (formerly Twitter) in 2022, has also participated in discussions with world leaders and offered advice on personnel decisions, both publicly on his platform and in private settings. He has even been appointed by Trump to co-lead a commission called the "Department of Government Efficiency." Also read: ‘I feel like Bin Laden,’ Florida man arrested by FBI for planning to bomb NYSE Trump publicly praised Musk during his victory speech, referring to him as “an amazing guy.” He said, “We have a new star, a star is born: Elon. He’s an amazing guy. We were sitting together tonight. You know, he spent two weeks in Philadelphia, in different parts of Pennsylvania, campaigning.” Trump's interactions with other tech leaders Before Election Day on November 5, Trump mentioned his interactions with other tech leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook. During a conversation with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, Trump shared that Cook had recently called him to discuss the financial penalties imposed on Apple by the European Union. “Two hours ago, three hours ago, he (Cook) called me,” Trump said. Federal records show Musk contributed at least $119 million to a pro-Trump political group. He publicly endorsed Trump on July 13, following an assassination attempt on the candidate in Butler, Pennsylvania. Musk became an outspoken supporter during the final days of the campaign and spent election night with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. (With inputs from agencies)

Tech titans and Trump: Elon Musk joins as Sundar Pichai dials US President-elect

SpaceX flew its latest test flight of its Starship mega-rocket on Tuesday, with President-elect Donald Trump joining Elon Musk to witness the spectacle firsthand in the latest sign of their ever-closer ties.

SpaceX flew its latest test flight of its Starship mega-rocket on Tuesday, with President-elect Donald Trump joining Elon Musk to witness the spectacle firsthand in the latest sign of their ever-closer ties. But the Republican leader was deprived of the chance to see the descending first stage caught in the launch tower's "chopstick" arms, an engineering marvel demonstrated by the company last month and one he personally lauded during his election victory speech. Instead, the massive Super Heavy booster made a more subdued splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Company representatives cited unmet technical criteria, dampening the triumph of an event attended by an array of Trump-world figures. Space X founder and CEO Musk has been a constant presence at Trump's side since the incoming president's election victory, joining him at a meeting with Argentina's President Javier Milei and even at a UFC bout. Trump's decision to travel to Musk's home turf was the latest sign of the burgeoning bond between the billionaire duo, which has raised questions over possible conflicts of interest given SpaceX's lucrative contracts with NASA and the Pentagon. Also read | What Trump’s victory means for future of Big Tech Flying in from his Mar-a-Lago home, Trump greeted Musk warmly on Tuesday afternoon, sporting a red MAGA hat as the pair headed off to watch from the control tower of the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, where Starship blasted off at 4:00 pm (2200 GMT). Tuesday's launch marked the quickest turnaround between test flights for the world's most powerful rocket, a gleaming, 400-foot-tall (121-meter) stainless steel colossus central to Musk's ambition of colonizing Mars and making humanity a multi-planetary species. Musk aims to launch the first uncrewed missions to the Red Planet as early as 2026, coinciding with the next "Mars transfer window" -- a period when the journey between Earth and Mars is at its shortest. NASA is also counting on a specialized version of Starship to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade under its Artemis program. Stuffed banana Flight six of Starship was seen as a test of whether SpaceX's first booster catch was pure precision or relied on a stroke of luck after Musk -- perhaps inadvertently -- disclosed how close the last flight came to disaster. In a clip posted to X showcasing his gaming chops in "Diablo IV," sharp-eared fans caught an employee briefing him that the Super Heavy booster was "one second away" from a system failure that could have spelt catastrophe. Starship's upper stage meanwhile made a partial orbit of Earth, reentered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Indian Ocean around an hour and five minutes after launch. SpaceX employees erupted in cheers during a live feed watched by nearly nine million viewers, as the upper stage executed a near-vertical daylight splashdown off Australia's northwest coast, sending up a towering plume of water vapour before tipping over. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war | Amid shifting political winds Zelensky warns Ukraine 'will lose' without US aid Key milestones included reigniting Starship's Raptor engines for the first time in space and trialling new heat shield materials. The flight also carried Starship's first-ever payload, a stuffed banana, and served as a swan song for the current generation of Starship prototypes. With twice the thrust of the Saturn V rockets that powered Apollo missions, Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built. Musk has already teased that its successor, Starship V3, will be "3X more powerful" and could take flight in about a year. The flight comes as Musk is riding high on Trump's November 5 White House win, having campaigned extensively for the returning Republican leader, as well as donating staggering sums from his own fortune to the cause. His loyalty has paid off. Musk has been tapped to co-lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency" -- or DOGE, a cheeky nod to the meme-based cryptocurrency Musk loves to promote. That in turn has led to concerns Musk could engage in "self-dealing" as the CEO is poised to straddle the line between government insider and corporate titan. 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.

SpaceX fails to repeat Starship booster catch, as Trump watches on

SpaceX flew its latest test flight of its starship Mega Rocket and to witness the spectacle firsthand, U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump joined his close ally Elon Musk in Texas. This is the latest sign of their ever-closer ties.

Donald Trump-Elon Musk Bonhomie

United Kingdom MPs will summon SpaceX founder Elon Musk before a parliamentary inquiry for involvement in the UK riots and the rise of false and harmful AI content, the Guardian reported.&nbsp;

Along with Musk, senior executives from Meta, which&nbsp;runs social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are also expected to be summoned as part of a Commons Science and Technology Select Committee social media inquiry.

This comes after Italian President Sergio Mattarella rebuked Musk after he took to X and posted about Italian court rulings that had hindered Italy's right-wing government plans to process some asylum-seekers in Albania.&nbsp;

The first hearings are scheduled to take place in the new year, amid increasing concerns that UK online safety law risk has surged by rapidly advancing technology and the politicisation of platforms such as X.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-strikes-back-after-not-being-invited-to-uk-international-investment-summit-762249">Also read:&nbsp;Elon Musk strikes back after not being invited to UK International Investment Summit</a>

The MPs are expected to probe the consequences of generative AI, which was used in widely shared images posted on Facebook and X, provoking people to join Islamophobic protests after the killing of three schoolgirls in Southport in August.&nbsp;

Moreover, they will also investigate Silicon Valley business models that “encourage the spread of content that can mislead and harm”.

“[Musk] has very strong views on multiple aspects of this,” Chi Onwurah, the Labour chair of the select committee said. “I would certainly like the opportunity to cross-examine him to see … how he reconciles his promotion of freedom of expression with his promotion of pure disinformation.”

Musk was disappointed and furious when he was not invited to a UK government international investment summit in September.&nbsp;

“I’d like to make up for that by inviting him to attend," Onwurah told the Guardian.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;UK: Elon Musk hits back at UK PM after 'civil war' comments dismissed

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This week, former Labour minister Peter Mandelson called for an end to the "feud" between Musk and the UK government.&nbsp;

“He is a sort of technological, industrial, commercial phenomenon,” Mandelson told the How to Win an Election podcast. “And it would be unwise, in my view, for Britain to ignore him. You cannot pursue these feuds.”

Meanwhile, X did not respond when they were asked if Musk would testify in the UK, although it appears unlikely, the Guardian reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

United Kingdom MPs will summon SpaceX founder Elon Musk before a parliamentary inquiry for involvement in the UK riots and the rise of false and harmful AI content, the Guardian reported.

United Kingdom MPs will summon SpaceX founder Elon Musk before a parliamentary inquiry for involvement in the UK riots and the rise of false and harmful AI content, the Guardian reported. Along with Musk, senior executives from Meta, which runs social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are also expected to be summoned as part of a Commons Science and Technology Select Committee social media inquiry. This comes after Italian President Sergio Mattarella rebuked Musk after he took to X and posted about Italian court rulings that had hindered Italy's right-wing government plans to process some asylum-seekers in Albania. The first hearings are scheduled to take place in the new year, amid increasing concerns that UK online safety law risk has surged by rapidly advancing technology and the politicisation of platforms such as X. Also read: Elon Musk strikes back after not being invited to UK International Investment Summit The MPs are expected to probe the consequences of generative AI, which was used in widely shared images posted on Facebook and X, provoking people to join Islamophobic protests after the killing of three schoolgirls in Southport in August. Moreover, they will also investigate Silicon Valley business models that “encourage the spread of content that can mislead and harm”. “[Musk] has very strong views on multiple aspects of this,” Chi Onwurah, the Labour chair of the select committee said. “I would certainly like the opportunity to cross-examine him to see … how he reconciles his promotion of freedom of expression with his promotion of pure disinformation.” Musk was disappointed and furious when he was not invited to a UK government international investment summit in September. “I’d like to make up for that by inviting him to attend," Onwurah told the Guardian. Watch | UK: Elon Musk hits back at UK PM after 'civil war' comments dismissed × This week, former Labour minister Peter Mandelson called for an end to the "feud" between Musk and the UK government. “He is a sort of technological, industrial, commercial phenomenon,” Mandelson told the How to Win an Election podcast. “And it would be unwise, in my view, for Britain to ignore him. You cannot pursue these feuds.” Meanwhile, X did not respond when they were asked if Musk would testify in the UK, although it appears unlikely, the Guardian reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk to be summoned by UK MPs over X's role in UK riots

Elon Musk is expected to play an important role in the upcoming Donald Trump Administration but tensions between Musk and Trump's transition team boiled over resulting in a reported altercation at Trump's Florida residence Mar-a-Lago. As per reports quoting sources close to Trump's transition team tensions erupted during a heated dinner at Trump's Florida estate. Billionaire Musk criticized senior advisor Boris Epshteyn for backing controversial candidates for the new Trump cabinet. Watch in for more details!

Elon Musk Clashes With Boris Epshteyn Over Cabinet Picks: Report

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms: - Trump appoints oilfield services - Adult Entertainer Wants To Give Birth To Musk's Baby On Mars - Turkey Newborn Scandal

Adult Entertainer Wants To Give Birth To Musk's Baby On Mars |Turkey Newborn Scandal

Elon Musk's Starlink has been generating significant buzz in India, particularly for its promise of high-speed satellite internet. However, a recent report by the Kutniti Foundation has raised concerns about the potential security implications of allowing the service in India.

Indian Think Tank Flags Security Risks Posed by Starlink | GRAVITAS

Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to launch India's GSAT-20 communications satellite, marking a significant milestone in the collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the American aerospace company. Watch in for more details!

For the First Time, SpaceX to Launch an Indian Govt Satellite

SpaceX to Launch India's Gsat-20 to Enhance Broadband Connectivity

Speaking at the G20 social event, Brazil's First Lady Janja Lula da Silva expressed her dislike for billionaire Elon Musk freely.&nbsp;

Recently, Musk was appointed as the head of US President-elect Donald Trump's new DOGE initiative along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.&nbsp;

Musk-owned platform X was suspended for a month in Brazil after it failed to name a legal representative and ignored orders given by the court to block accounts which were found using hate speech and spreading fake news.&nbsp;

<h2>Brazil's First Lady criticises Musk</h2>

In her&nbsp;speech, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's wife, Janja Lula da Silva, spoke about the importance of regulating social media to curb misinformation.&nbsp;

“I think it’s Elon Musk.” She then added, “I’m not afraid of you, f*** you, Elon Musk,” said Janja in her speech.

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Fuck you, Elon Musk,” 
 
says Brazil's first lady, Janja da Silva, during the G20 Social panel. <a href="https://t.co/z99XqiHwnj">pic.twitter.com/z99XqiHwnj</a>
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) <a href="https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1857895338235068878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Tensions had escalated between Musk and the Brazilian government earlier this year when the country's Supreme Court blocked access to X.&nbsp;

First Lady Janja had also earlier threatened to file a legal case against the social media giant after her account got hacked, reportedly.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-wont-go-home-cant-get-rid-of-him-trump-says-after-billionaires-constant-presence-at-his-home-776219">'Elon won't go home, can't get rid of him,' Trump says after billionaire's constant presence at his home</a>

X had not adhered to the local regulations in August by failing to block accounts which were accused of spreading hate speech and "fake news".

The company's Brazil offices were also closed, citing "censorship" by a judge, even though its service was accessible to users across the country. In October, the ban was removed.&nbsp;

<h2>Elon Musk reacts</h2>

Musk, who has been involved in many public confrontations, responded to the remarks of Janja on his social media account by posting an emoji and suggesting that the camp of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will lose the upcoming elections.

Watch:&nbsp;Soccer Club St Pauli Slams Elon Musk; X Categorised As Right Wing

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/soccer-club-st-pauli-slams-elon-musk-x-categorised-as-right-wing-776649/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Taking to X, Musk wrote, "They are going to lose the next election.”

As reported by the South China Morning Post, a spokesperson of Lula said, “We don’t have to offend or curse anyone."

(With inputs from agencies)

Speaking at the G20 social event, Brazil's First Lady Janja Lula da Silva expressed her dislike for billionaire Elon Musk freely. Recently, Musk was appointed as the head of US President-elect Donald Trump's new DOGE initiative along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Speaking at the G20 social event, Brazil's First Lady Janja Lula da Silva expressed her dislike for billionaire Elon Musk freely. Recently, Musk was appointed as the head of US President-elect Donald Trump's new DOGE initiative along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk-owned platform X was suspended for a month in Brazil after it failed to name a legal representative and ignored orders given by the court to block accounts which were found using hate speech and spreading fake news. Brazil's First Lady criticises Musk In her speech, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's wife, Janja Lula da Silva, spoke about the importance of regulating social media to curb misinformation. “I think it’s Elon Musk.” She then added, “I’m not afraid of you, f*** you, Elon Musk,” said Janja in her speech. Fuck you, Elon Musk,” says Brazil's first lady, Janja da Silva, during the G20 Social panel. pic.twitter.com/z99XqiHwnj — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 16, 2024 × Tensions had escalated between Musk and the Brazilian government earlier this year when the country's Supreme Court blocked access to X. First Lady Janja had also earlier threatened to file a legal case against the social media giant after her account got hacked, reportedly. Also Read: 'Elon won't go home, can't get rid of him,' Trump says after billionaire's constant presence at his home X had not adhered to the local regulations in August by failing to block accounts which were accused of spreading hate speech and "fake news". The company's Brazil offices were also closed, citing "censorship" by a judge, even though its service was accessible to users across the country. In October, the ban was removed. Elon Musk reacts Musk, who has been involved in many public confrontations, responded to the remarks of Janja on his social media account by posting an emoji and suggesting that the camp of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will lose the upcoming elections. Watch: Soccer Club St Pauli Slams Elon Musk; X Categorised As Right Wing Taking to X, Musk wrote, "They are going to lose the next election.” As reported by the South China Morning Post, a spokesperson of Lula said, “We don’t have to offend or curse anyone." (With inputs from agencies)

‘F*** you, Elon Musk’: Brazil's First Lady throws insult at Space X CEO, latter responds ‘Going to lose…’

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday formed a four-member committee to probe into the Jhansi fire incident at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a medical college, which led to the death of&nbsp;10 infants. In other news, Iran denied reports of Elon Musk meeting with the Iranian envoy to the United Nations, Iranian media reported citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. &nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday formed a four-member committee to probe into the fire at the children's ward of a medical college in Jhansi that snuffed out the lives of 10 newborns as officials suspect an electrical short circuit to be the cause of the tragic incident.

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No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. &nbsp;

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Head of Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) Giorgi Kalandarishvili on Saturday (Nov 16) was drenched in black paint after Georgian opposition politician Davit Kirtadze threw it at him during a meeting as he was about to validate results of parliamentary elections held last month.

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The Irish Navy said it escorted a Russian spy ship out of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), an area critical for energy and submarine pipelines and cables, on Friday (Nov 15). The spy ship was earlier spotted by Norwegian, United States, French and British navy and air defence services on Thursday (Nov 14) east of Dublin and southwest of the Isle of Man as it was accompanying Russian warship Admiral Golovko.

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Parents of the newborn children who died in the hospital fire in the Indian city of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh on Friday (Nov 15) night, shared their heartbreaking ordeal. Meanwhile many were seen seeking answers as they searched for their missing infants.&nbsp;

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An Indian family of four froze to death while attempting to slip into the United States from Canada in January 2022, as the temperature dropped to minus 36 Fahrenheit (minus 38 Celsius) in the country.&nbsp;

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Authorities in Imphal West District have re-imposed a curfew starting at 4:30 am on Saturday until further notice, due to the prevailing law and order situation in the district.

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An aircraft of Southwest Airlines was hit by gunfire while taking off from an airport in the US city of Dallas on Friday (Nov 15). The incident happened at the Dallas Love Field Airport in the US state of Texas.

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Team India could be handed a major blow in their preparation for the opening contest against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after Shubman Gill sustained a finger injury on Saturday (Nov 16). In preparation for the high-voltage series, Gill was fielding in slips when the injury occurred, which now casts doubt on his involvement in the opening match. India are already facing a crisis in the top order, with Rohit Sharma unlikely to play in the Perth Test due to paternity leave.

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Nayanthara has shared an open letter slamming Dhanush. The South Indian superstar has shared a lengthy note criticising the&nbsp;Karnan&nbsp;actor for not letting her use the clips of her&nbsp;movie&nbsp;Naanum Rowdy Dhaan,&nbsp;which he has produced.&nbsp;

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday formed a four-member committee to probe into the Jhansi fire incident at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a medical college, which led to the death of 10 infants.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday formed a four-member committee to probe into the Jhansi fire incident at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a medical college, which led to the death of 10 infants. In other news, Iran denied reports of Elon Musk meeting with the Iranian envoy to the United Nations, Iranian media reported citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. Click on the headlines to read more Jhansi hospital fire: Four-member team formed to probe incident, govt refutes faulty extinguishers claim The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday formed a four-member committee to probe into the fire at the children's ward of a medical college in Jhansi that snuffed out the lives of 10 newborns as officials suspect an electrical short circuit to be the cause of the tragic incident. Iran ‘categorically’ rejects reports of meeting between UN envoy and Elon Musk No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. Georgia parliamentary polls: Election chief doused in black paint as opposition alleges rigging Head of Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) Giorgi Kalandarishvili on Saturday (Nov 16) was drenched in black paint after Georgian opposition politician Davit Kirtadze threw it at him during a meeting as he was about to validate results of parliamentary elections held last month. Ireland-UK submarine cables under threat? Irish Navy claims it escorted Russian spy ship out of EEZ The Irish Navy said it escorted a Russian spy ship out of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), an area critical for energy and submarine pipelines and cables, on Friday (Nov 15). The spy ship was earlier spotted by Norwegian, United States, French and British navy and air defence services on Thursday (Nov 14) east of Dublin and southwest of the Isle of Man as it was accompanying Russian warship Admiral Golovko. India: 'It was my first baby,' Bereaving parents share tragic ordeal after infants die in Jhansi hospital fire Parents of the newborn children who died in the hospital fire in the Indian city of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh on Friday (Nov 15) night, shared their heartbreaking ordeal. Meanwhile many were seen seeking answers as they searched for their missing infants. Indian family freezes to death while trying to slip into US from Canada, two accused await trial An Indian family of four froze to death while attempting to slip into the United States from Canada in January 2022, as the temperature dropped to minus 36 Fahrenheit (minus 38 Celsius) in the country. Manipur authorities impose curfew in Imphal West District amid violent protests Authorities in Imphal West District have re-imposed a curfew starting at 4:30 am on Saturday until further notice, due to the prevailing law and order situation in the district. US airline plane hit by gunfire while taking off from Dallas: FAA An aircraft of Southwest Airlines was hit by gunfire while taking off from an airport in the US city of Dallas on Friday (Nov 15). The incident happened at the Dallas Love Field Airport in the US state of Texas. BGT 2024/25: Shubman Gill suffers finger injury while fielding, doubtful for opening contest in Perth Team India could be handed a major blow in their preparation for the opening contest against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after Shubman Gill sustained a finger injury on Saturday (Nov 16). In preparation for the high-voltage series, Gill was fielding in slips when the injury occurred, which now casts doubt on his involvement in the opening match. India are already facing a crisis in the top order, with Rohit Sharma unlikely to play in the Perth Test due to paternity leave. Nayanthara slams Dhanush in an open letter over her Netflix documentary, responds to Rs 10 crore legal notice Nayanthara has shared an open letter slamming Dhanush. The South Indian superstar has shared a lengthy note criticising the Karnan actor for not letting her use the clips of her movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which he has produced.

Top 10 world news: Team formed to probe Jhansi fire incident; Iran denies meeting with Musk, and more

No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. &nbsp;

The NYT reported that the meeting took place Monday (Nov 11) at a secret location in New York and lasted more than an hour. According to the report, the two men discussed how to diffuse tensions between Washington and Tehran when the incoming Donald Trump administration takes over.

A report by the Associated Press earlier hinted that Iranian envoy Amir Saeid Iravani had sought a meeting with Musk and their discussion hovered around Iran’s nuclear programme and Iranian proxies around West Asia. According to the report, the meeting didn’t culminate in concrete decisions by either side but set the stage for easing tensions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/delhi-to-san-francisco-aboard-a-starship-in-under-an-hour-musk-has-plans-reports-suggest-776460" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/delhi-to-san-francisco-aboard-a-starship-in-under-an-hour-musk-has-plans-reports-suggest-776460&amp;ved=2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">Delhi to San Francisco aboard a Starship in under an hour? Musk has plans, reports suggest</a>

The Trump team had not confirmed the meeting.

These reports have led to speculations about Musk’s role in the incoming US government, the X owner has emerged as a key Trump ally. Musk has already been asked to lead the much-anticipated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, which aims to cut down the government budget by a whopping $2 trillion.

The news of Musk meeting the Iranian envoy came after it was reported that the Tesla boss joined Trump in a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to media reports, Trump put the phone on speaker and then Zelensky thanked Musk for Starlink's support in the ongoing war with Russia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/congress-and-constitution-experts-claim-musks-doge-plan-may-face-real-obstacles-776310" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/congress-and-constitution-experts-claim-musks-doge-plan-may-face-real-obstacles-776310&amp;ved=2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">Congress and Constitution: Experts claim Musk’s DOGE plan may face real obstacles</a>

Trump’s picks for key foreign policy posts — including Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Representative Mike Waltz for national security adviser—are expected to be tough on Iran. Earlier, the US intel community said Iran looked askance upon a second Trump administration and preferred Democrats in the White House. During the previous term, Trump unilaterally walked out of the Iranian nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the Shi’ite regime.

(With inputs from agencies)

No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials.

No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. The NYT reported that the meeting took place Monday (Nov 11) at a secret location in New York and lasted more than an hour. According to the report, the two men discussed how to diffuse tensions between Washington and Tehran when the incoming Donald Trump administration takes over. A report by the Associated Press earlier hinted that Iranian envoy Amir Saeid Iravani had sought a meeting with Musk and their discussion hovered around Iran’s nuclear programme and Iranian proxies around West Asia. According to the report, the meeting didn’t culminate in concrete decisions by either side but set the stage for easing tensions. Also read: Delhi to San Francisco aboard a Starship in under an hour? Musk has plans, reports suggest The Trump team had not confirmed the meeting. These reports have led to speculations about Musk’s role in the incoming US government, the X owner has emerged as a key Trump ally. Musk has already been asked to lead the much-anticipated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, which aims to cut down the government budget by a whopping $2 trillion. The news of Musk meeting the Iranian envoy came after it was reported that the Tesla boss joined Trump in a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to media reports, Trump put the phone on speaker and then Zelensky thanked Musk for Starlink's support in the ongoing war with Russia. Also read: Congress and Constitution: Experts claim Musk’s DOGE plan may face real obstacles Trump’s picks for key foreign policy posts — including Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Representative Mike Waltz for national security adviser—are expected to be tough on Iran. Earlier, the US intel community said Iran looked askance upon a second Trump administration and preferred Democrats in the White House. During the previous term, Trump unilaterally walked out of the Iranian nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the Shi’ite regime. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran ‘categorically’ rejects reports of meeting between UN envoy and Elon Musk

US President-elect Donald Trump picked billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).&nbsp;

As the news sparked discussion on social media, some people were seen supporting Trump's decision while others shared their criticism.&nbsp;

Replying to a few of those posts on X, Musk claimed that he and Ramaswamy would not get paid for their role in the department.&nbsp;

Reacting to Trump's decision to the new department, US Senator Elizabeth Warren sarcastically questioned&nbsp;the need for two people to run a single department.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Unlike you, neither of us are being paid, so it is very efficient indeed.<a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1856925863725412706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“The Office of Government Efficiency is off to a great start with split leadership: two people to do the work of one person. Yeah, this seems efficient,” she wrote on X.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rfk-jr-todd-blanche-doug-burgum-donald-trumps-top-picks-spark-debate-776331">RFK Jr, Todd Blanche, Doug Burgum: Donald Trump's top picks spark debate</a>

Musk reshared the post and replied, "Unlike you, neither of us is being paid, so it is very efficient indeed. DOGE will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge.”

On Tuesday (Nov 14), an X user shared his views on the department saying, "I get the unbridled enthusiasm of wanting to be part of something of profound historical significance like the @DOGE but I think people don't quite realize that the task at hand will require a monumental amount of tedious super-high quality work."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies &amp; compensation is zero. 
 
What a great deal! 😂 <a href="https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i">https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1857112441529700671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Musk replied to that post with a laughing emoji saying, "Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies &amp; compensation is zero. What a great deal!"

<h2>What's The Role Of DOGE?</h2>

While announcing the roles on November 13, Trump said the 'DOGE' department "will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government," a move that could allow Musk to avoid disclosing his financial holdings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-names-vaccine-sceptic-rfk-jr-as-health-and-human-services-secretary-776318">Donald Trump names vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as Health and Human Services secretary</a>

In a post on X, Musk said the department's actions will be published online "for maximum transparency" and will include a "leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars."

"This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining," Musk further wrote.

<h2>DOGE Is Hiring</h2>

The department shared a post on X on November 14 saying it is hiring "high-IQ" people who are willing to work for 80+ hours on "unglamorous cost-cutting."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s…
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE/status/1857076831104434289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The post read, "We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon &amp; Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants."

(With inputs from agencies)

US President-elect Donald Trump picked billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

US President-elect Donald Trump picked billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As the news sparked discussion on social media, some people were seen supporting Trump's decision while others shared their criticism. Replying to a few of those posts on X, Musk claimed that he and Ramaswamy would not get paid for their role in the department. Reacting to Trump's decision to the new department, US Senator Elizabeth Warren sarcastically questioned the need for two people to run a single department. Unlike you, neither of us are being paid, so it is very efficient indeed.@DOGE will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2024 × “The Office of Government Efficiency is off to a great start with split leadership: two people to do the work of one person. Yeah, this seems efficient,” she wrote on X. Also read | RFK Jr, Todd Blanche, Doug Burgum: Donald Trump's top picks spark debate Musk reshared the post and replied, "Unlike you, neither of us is being paid, so it is very efficient indeed. DOGE will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge.” On Tuesday (Nov 14), an X user shared his views on the department saying, "I get the unbridled enthusiasm of wanting to be part of something of profound historical significance like the @DOGE but I think people don't quite realize that the task at hand will require a monumental amount of tedious super-high quality work." Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero. What a great deal! 😂 https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2024 × Musk replied to that post with a laughing emoji saying, "Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero. What a great deal!" What's The Role Of DOGE? While announcing the roles on November 13, Trump said the 'DOGE' department "will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government," a move that could allow Musk to avoid disclosing his financial holdings. Also read | Donald Trump names vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as Health and Human Services secretary In a post on X, Musk said the department's actions will be published online "for maximum transparency" and will include a "leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars." "This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining," Musk further wrote. DOGE Is Hiring The department shared a post on X on November 14 saying it is hiring "high-IQ" people who are willing to work for 80+ hours on "unglamorous cost-cutting." We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s… — Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) November 14, 2024 × The post read, "We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants." (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy won't get paid for leading DOGE? Here's what Tesla CEO said

While American&nbsp;billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy look all set to unleash their United States “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) on the US&nbsp;bureaucratic splurge, experts have warned their ambitious agenda might soon face roadblocks.

The DOGE aims to slash government costs by $2 trillion within the next two years by restructuring federal agencies.

However, experts have noted that the executive branch may scuttle their ambitious strides.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of American Action Forum, was quoted as saying by the Hill, “There’s the executive branch that might be in their way. The Congress might be in their way. The Constitution is a bit of an obstacle.”

Holtz-Eakin added that the DOGE’s powers will be fully advisory and it will just give recommendations to the government agencies, without having any real authority.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwidlJmmt9yJAxWyqFYBHbrMNzkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-india-trumps-border-czar-raises-concerns-over-terror-risk-from-canada-776286" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/after-india-trumps-border-czar-raises-concerns-over-terror-risk-from-canada-776286&amp;ved=2ahUKEwidlJmmt9yJAxWyqFYBHbrMNzkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">After India, Trump’s border czar raises concerns over terror risk from Canada</a>

“They don’t have any authority to do anything other than say, ‘We think this will be good,’” the expert said. “Evidently, Mr. Musk has a lot of free time, and if he wants to waste it, that’s fine,” he stated.

Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution, meanwhile expressed doubts over the authority and status of DOGE since it has not been created by Congress.

“But since this was not created by Congress, we don’t know what its authority is and what status it has,” West said. “I mean, any American can make suggestions on ways to cut the government budget, but the question — is anybody going to pay serious attention to this?”

The expert also noted that major budgetary cuts would be approved only by Congress and would not be based on&nbsp;DOGE’s recommendations. 
 
Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwidlJmmt9yJAxWyqFYBHbrMNzkQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-wont-go-home-cant-get-rid-of-him-trump-says-after-billionaires-constant-presence-at-his-home-776219" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-wont-go-home-cant-get-rid-of-him-trump-says-after-billionaires-constant-presence-at-his-home-776219&amp;ved=2ahUKEwidlJmmt9yJAxWyqFYBHbrMNzkQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">`Elon won`t go home, can`t get rid of him,` Trump says after billionaire`s constant presence at his home</a>

However, West warned that Musk had to be taken seriously only because of his closeness to President-elect Donald Trump.

“Musk has the ear of the president, so people have to take it seriously just for that reason,” West was quoted as saying by The Hill.

Trump, on Tuesday (Nov 12) declared that Vivek and Elon would be spearheading the DOGE arm of his government. Trump in a statement said, “It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time.”

(With inputs from agencies)

While American billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy look all set to unleash their United States “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) on the US bureaucratic splurge, experts have warned their ambitious agenda might soon face roadblocks.

While American billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy look all set to unleash their United States “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) on the US bureaucratic splurge, experts have warned their ambitious agenda might soon face roadblocks. The DOGE aims to slash government costs by $2 trillion within the next two years by restructuring federal agencies. However, experts have noted that the executive branch may scuttle their ambitious strides. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of American Action Forum, was quoted as saying by the Hill, “There’s the executive branch that might be in their way. The Congress might be in their way. The Constitution is a bit of an obstacle.” Holtz-Eakin added that the DOGE’s powers will be fully advisory and it will just give recommendations to the government agencies, without having any real authority. Also read: After India, Trump’s border czar raises concerns over terror risk from Canada “They don’t have any authority to do anything other than say, ‘We think this will be good,’” the expert said. “Evidently, Mr. Musk has a lot of free time, and if he wants to waste it, that’s fine,” he stated. Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution, meanwhile expressed doubts over the authority and status of DOGE since it has not been created by Congress. “But since this was not created by Congress, we don’t know what its authority is and what status it has,” West said. “I mean, any American can make suggestions on ways to cut the government budget, but the question — is anybody going to pay serious attention to this?” The expert also noted that major budgetary cuts would be approved only by Congress and would not be based on DOGE’s recommendations. Also read: `Elon won`t go home, can`t get rid of him,` Trump says after billionaire`s constant presence at his home However, West warned that Musk had to be taken seriously only because of his closeness to President-elect Donald Trump. “Musk has the ear of the president, so people have to take it seriously just for that reason,” West was quoted as saying by The Hill. Trump, on Tuesday (Nov 12) declared that Vivek and Elon would be spearheading the DOGE arm of his government. Trump in a statement said, “It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time.” (With inputs from agencies)

Congress and Constitution: Experts claim Musk’s DOGE plan may face real obstacles

Elon Musk reportedly met with Iran's Ambassador to the UN to discuss U.S.-Iran tensions, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic strategy under Trump. WION tells you more insights in this report.

Elon Musk Talks To Iran As Israel Hits 3 War Fronts | GRAVITAS

German football club St. Pauli has announced it will leave X (formerly Twitter), accusing Elon Musk of turning the platform into a "hate machine." The club expressed concerns over the rise in harmful content and the impact on online discourse under Musk’s ownership.

German Football Club St. Pauli Quits X, Criticize Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian-origin biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced that they are hiring for their new United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk and Ramaswamy are seeking “high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” who are willing to work over 80 hours a week without pay.

In an X post, the department posted from its official handle, “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.”

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We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s…
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE/status/1857076831104434289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/so-humanity-can-grow-elon-musk-allegedly-offered-his-sperm-to-a-very-famous-politician-776412">'So humanity can grow,' Elon Musk allegedly offered his sperm to a very famous politician</a>

“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon &amp; Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants,” it added.

However, to send a message to a DOGE account to submit applications, users need an X subscription. To get a verified X account, users need to pay $84 a year for the premium membership.

“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies &amp; compensation is zero,” Musk wrote in a separate X post about the job. “What a great deal!”

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Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies &amp; compensation is zero. 
 
What a great deal! 😂 <a href="https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i">https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1857112441529700671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Trump appoints Musk and&nbsp;Ramaswamy</h2>

US President-elect Donald Trump earlier announced the appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy to the department, saying “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies – essential to the ‘Save America’ movement.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/good-news-trump-ally-elon-musk-met-with-irans-un-ambassador-discussed-ways-to-defuse-tensions-report-776427">'Good news,' Trump ally Elon Musk met with Iran’s UN ambassador, discussed ways to defuse tensions: Report</a>

Musk has vowed to reduce federal bureaucracy by one-third and reduce the US government spending by $2 trillion, a move that he said “necessarily involves some temporary hardship”.&nbsp;

The X owner has emerged as a strong ally of Trump since the first assassination attempt on the Republican. He is the largest donator to Trump’s campaign after donating $120 million. Musk has also held rallies and events for Trump and promoted his campaign message consistently on X.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian-origin biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced that they are hiring for their new United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian-origin biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced that they are hiring for their new United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk and Ramaswamy are seeking “high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” who are willing to work over 80 hours a week without pay. In an X post, the department posted from its official handle, “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.” We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s… — Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) November 14, 2024 × Also read | 'So humanity can grow,' Elon Musk allegedly offered his sperm to a very famous politician “If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants,” it added. However, to send a message to a DOGE account to submit applications, users need an X subscription. To get a verified X account, users need to pay $84 a year for the premium membership. “Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero,” Musk wrote in a separate X post about the job. “What a great deal!” Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero. What a great deal! 😂 https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2024 × Trump appoints Musk and Ramaswamy US President-elect Donald Trump earlier announced the appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy to the department, saying “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies – essential to the ‘Save America’ movement.” Also read | 'Good news,' Trump ally Elon Musk met with Iran’s UN ambassador, discussed ways to defuse tensions: Report Musk has vowed to reduce federal bureaucracy by one-third and reduce the US government spending by $2 trillion, a move that he said “necessarily involves some temporary hardship”. The X owner has emerged as a strong ally of Trump since the first assassination attempt on the Republican. He is the largest donator to Trump’s campaign after donating $120 million. Musk has also held rallies and events for Trump and promoted his campaign message consistently on X. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s DOGE seeks ‘super-high IQ’ candidates

Bluesky, the social media platform believed to be X’s competitor, has recently gained popularity after Donald Trump’s win in the United States presidential election. The social media platform has gained millions of new users, including some big Hollywood names.

As Elon Musk secures a position in Trump’s cabinet, a large number of X users have shifted to Bluesky as a result of terms of service change on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.&nbsp;

Bluesky, which now has over 16 million users, recently faced technical issues as many reported outages.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/good-news-trump-ally-elon-musk-met-with-irans-un-ambassador-discussed-ways-to-defuse-tensions-report-776427">'Good news,' Trump ally Elon Musk met with Iran’s UN ambassador, discussed ways to defuse tensions: Report</a>

<h2>Bluesky reports outages</h2>

As Bluesky is growing, with one million new users joining this week, the app was among the top on the App Store on November 14, according to Business Insider.&nbsp;

However, thousands of users reported issues with the application and website on Downdetector just as Bluesky went over 16 million users, according to an employee at the decentralised microblogging company.

<h2>Hollywood celebs leave X</h2>

While Musk’s X has around 317 million users, Bluesky’s user base is much smaller. However, major Hollywood names have recently switched to Bluesky from X after Trump won his second term in office.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/so-humanity-can-grow-elon-musk-allegedly-offered-his-sperm-to-a-very-famous-politician-776412">'So humanity can grow,' Elon Musk allegedly offered his sperm to a very famous politician</a>

Don Lemon, an American television journalist, posted a short video to announce that he is leaving X. “I once believed it was a place for honest debate, discussion, transparency, and free speech. But now, I feel it no longer serves that purpose,” he said.

Other big names including Elton John, Lee Curtis, Whoopi Goldberg, and Mia Farrow have also left Musk’s social media platform. Rapper Lizzo also left X, saying, “Anyways, I joined Bluesky because we’re leaving toxicity in 2024.”

Bluesky was first created by Jack Dorsey as a research project in 2019 to decentralise Twitter, as per Forbes. The company was officially launched in 2021 and opened to the public in 2023. The platform offers features similar to X to its users. In addition, it allows users to create their own servers with their own set of rules.

(With inputs from agencies)

Bluesky, the social media platform believed to be X’s competitor, has recently gained popularity after Donald Trump’s win in the United States presidential election.

Bluesky, the social media platform believed to be X’s competitor, has recently gained popularity after Donald Trump’s win in the United States presidential election. The social media platform has gained millions of new users, including some big Hollywood names. As Elon Musk secures a position in Trump’s cabinet, a large number of X users have shifted to Bluesky as a result of terms of service change on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Bluesky, which now has over 16 million users, recently faced technical issues as many reported outages. Also read | 'Good news,' Trump ally Elon Musk met with Iran’s UN ambassador, discussed ways to defuse tensions: Report Bluesky reports outages As Bluesky is growing, with one million new users joining this week, the app was among the top on the App Store on November 14, according to Business Insider. However, thousands of users reported issues with the application and website on Downdetector just as Bluesky went over 16 million users, according to an employee at the decentralised microblogging company. Hollywood celebs leave X While Musk’s X has around 317 million users, Bluesky’s user base is much smaller. However, major Hollywood names have recently switched to Bluesky from X after Trump won his second term in office. Also read | 'So humanity can grow,' Elon Musk allegedly offered his sperm to a very famous politician Don Lemon, an American television journalist, posted a short video to announce that he is leaving X. “I once believed it was a place for honest debate, discussion, transparency, and free speech. But now, I feel it no longer serves that purpose,” he said. Other big names including Elton John, Lee Curtis, Whoopi Goldberg, and Mia Farrow have also left Musk’s social media platform. Rapper Lizzo also left X, saying, “Anyways, I joined Bluesky because we’re leaving toxicity in 2024.” Bluesky was first created by Jack Dorsey as a research project in 2019 to decentralise Twitter, as per Forbes. The company was officially launched in 2021 and opened to the public in 2023. The platform offers features similar to X to its users. In addition, it allows users to create their own servers with their own set of rules. (With inputs from agencies)

Bluesky reports outages as millions, including Hollywood elites join platform after leaving Musk’s X

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.&nbsp;

Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security.

Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final.

WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General

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&nbsp;

<h2>ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA</h2>

Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver.&nbsp;

He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation.&nbsp;

Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tulsi-gabbard-newly-elected-trumps-spy-chief-served-in-us-military-for-over-two-decades-776235">Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades</a>

But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East.

The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden).&nbsp;

The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik.

Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance.&nbsp;

<h2>TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE&nbsp;</h2>

Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them.&nbsp;

The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment.&nbsp;

Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office.

Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents.&nbsp;

More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases.

Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department.

<h2>THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY</h2>

Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this.

Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office.&nbsp;

For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. 
Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration.

<h2>SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT</h2>

Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-tulsi-gabbard-nominated-to-head-us-intelligence-matt-gaetz-to-lead-justice-department-775994">Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department</a> 
&nbsp;

Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency.&nbsp;

There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him.

<h2>FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS</h2>

Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs.&nbsp;

Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office.&nbsp;

He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing.

This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts.&nbsp;

Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East.

Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations.

Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab.

<h2>GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS?</h2>

The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut.

<h2>ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES?</h2>

Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes.&nbsp;

For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'.

Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors.&nbsp;

<h2>HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC?</h2>

At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines.

<h2>BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP?</h2>

Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda.

This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation.

Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases. Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security. Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final. WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General × ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver. He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation. Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict. Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East. The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden). The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik. Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance. TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them. The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office. Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents. More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases. Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department. THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this. Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office. For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration. SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office. Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency. There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him. FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs. Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office. He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing. This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts. Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East. Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations. Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab. GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS? The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut. ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES? Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes. For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'. Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors. HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC? At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines. BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP? Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda. This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval. Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation. Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him?

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