Musk’s Relationships With Other Countries Worth Watching: The US President
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he thinks Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s relationship with other countries should be looked into.
Biden was asked at a press conference if he thinks Musk is a threat to national security and if his acquisition of Twitter with the help of a Saudi Arabian organization should be investigated by the US government.
“I think Elon Musk’s collaborations and/or technology partnerships with other countries are worth looking at,” Biden said.
“Regardless of whether he’s doing anything wrong, I’m not suggesting that. I’m suggesting that they should be looked at.”
The White House said last month that reports the United States was discussing launching a national security review of some of Musk’s programs, including Twitter, were “untrue.”
Musk’s purchase of Twitter sparked concerns that he might face pressure from countries trying to regulate online speech.
The world’s richest man, Musk is the CEO of electric car manufacturer Tesla which counts China as its main market and production base. Tesla operates a factory in Shanghai, China, which handled nearly half of Tesla’s global deliveries last year.
Musk is also the CEO of rocket and satellite internet company SpaceX, among others.
Musk previously suggested that tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by giving Beijing some control over Taiwan. Musk also said China wanted assurances that it would not provide SpaceX’s Starlink internet service there.
He also suggested that Ukraine permanently cede Crimea to Russia, while saying that SpaceX would not be able to permanently support Starlink in Ukraine.
Ian Bremmer, head of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, tweeted that Musk told him to speak to Putin and the Kremlin directly about Ukraine. Musk denied his claims.
© Thomson Reuters 2022
