President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) resumed criticism of businessman Elon Musk for, in his view, spreading “fake news” and disrespecting the sovereignty of countries. The attacks occurred one day after Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election, which received millionaire support from the owner of the social network X.
Lula constantly attacks Musk in his speeches since the businessman started to challenge Brazilian court decisions on the suspension of profiles and content on the social network, which led to access to X being blocked in the country for more than a month and released only after compliance with the determinations of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
“The only thing we want is for this businessman to treat countries with respect and not use fake news to inform the people, whether American or Brazilian. […] It is not possible to keep instigating hatred, controversy, when we could be encouraging peace”, said Lula in an interview with CNN International last Thursday (7) and which had excerpts released this Saturday morning (9).
Lula stated that “no one is obliged to like anyone”, but that relationships should not exceed the limits of respect. “We need to return to civility”, he added.
Musk participated in Trump’s campaign in the American election with a donation of US$118 million and raffle prizes for voters, and stated that his ally’s victory is just the beginning of his political ambitions.
In Brazil, Elon Musk is accused by Lula and allies of attempted interference due to the attacks he made on the Brazilian Judiciary with a view to his own economic interests. The president has already called him an “asshole” in a speech in which he spoke about the need for the world’s large economies to direct resources to emerging countries to deal with the climate crisis.
“There are people who, instead of helping, are making a fuss trying to look for a place [lá fora] to live. There isn’t, asshole. It’s here on Earth, and that’s why everyone is invited to take care of this planet. It’s the only Noah’s Ark we have. If it capsizes, there are no rich people, there are no poor people, we will sink”, said the president in reference to Musk’s project to colonize the planet Mars in the future.
In another public speech, after the order to block access to X in Brazil, Lula stated that Musk promotes an “extreme right-wing anything goes” because of his fortune. “Brazilian justice may have given an important signal that the world is not obliged to put up with the extreme right-wing free-for-all of [Elon] Musk just because he is rich”, he said.
“Just because a guy has a lot of money doesn’t mean he can be disrespectful. This citizen is an American, he is not a citizen of the world. He cannot offend presidents, deputies, Senate, Chamber, Supreme Court”, he added in another speech in a radio interview MaisPBby João Pessoa.
