An unusual diplomatic spat unfolded in the lead-up to the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro when Brazil’s First Lady, Rosângela "Janja" da Silva, directed sharp remarks toward Elon Musk. The incident occurred during a workshop on combating disinformation at the "G20 Social," a forum for activists and NGO representatives.
Janja, addressing the global need for stricter social media regulations, was interrupted by a ship's horn and humorously remarked, “I think it’s Elon Musk,” before saying, “I’m not afraid of you. F*** you, Elon Musk.” The audience reacted with applause. Her comments followed Musk’s public critiques of Brazilian policies, including allegations of censorship tied to the temporary suspension of X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil earlier this year.
Musk responded on X with the statement, “They will lose the next election,” implying political consequences for her husband, President Lula da Silva. The exchange quickly escalated online, with former President Jair Bolsonaro suggesting that Janja’s remarks could lead to diplomatic fallout between Brazil and the United States
The controversy also ties into Musk’s recent appointment by U.S. President Donald Trump as the head of a new Government Efficiency Department. As Musk has faced scrutiny in Brazil over his social media platform’s compliance with local regulations, this public clash highlights ongoing tensions between national governance and global tech giants
The incident raises questions about free speech, the regulation of digital platforms, and the implications of such exchanges for international relations, particularly as Brazil and the U.S. navigate this diplomatic tension ahead of the G20 discussions.
