Brazil’s First Lady Insults Elon Musk at G20 Event, Sparks Controversy

Rio de Janeiro – On Saturday, the First Lady of Brazil, Rosángela “Janja” da Silva, criticized South African billionaire Elon Musk at an event before the G20 summit. She stated her views on the need to regulate social media. During the event, she reacted to a loud noise, ducked for cover, and claimed it sounded like a ship’s horn. Upon standing, she said, “I think it’s Elon Musk,” adding, “I’m not scared of you… Fuck you, Elon Musk!”.

Musk quickly responded on social media. He posted a video of her comments and remarked, “They will lose the next election,” referring to the upcoming Brazilian presidential elections in 2026.

This incident gained widespread attention on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Earlier this year, X faced a suspension in Brazil for failing to comply with court orders to remove accounts that spread false information and anti-democratic messages.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva supported the judiciary’s actions against X and maintained that no individual, regardless of wealth, could disregard Brazilian laws. This stance heightened tensions with Musk.

Brazil’s government is cautious about its future relationship with the new U.S. president, Donald Trump, who has indicated a protectionist and less progressive approach. Before the U.S. elections, Lula endorsed the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris but congratulated Trump after the results and expressed hopes for positive relations.

Musk, a significant donor to Trump’s campaign, has been invited to join the new administration as the Minister of Efficiency starting next January.