Brazil's First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva, made headlines during a pre-G20 event in Rio de Janeiro after directing an expletive at tech billionaire Elon Musk. While speaking on a panel addressing the pressing issue of disinformation and the need for stricter regulations on social media, she was interrupted by a sudden noise. Jokingly, she remarked, “That must be Elon Musk,” before boldly stating, “I’m not afraid of you,” and following it with a profanity. Musk, the owner of Tesla and the social media platform X, responded by reposting the video with a lighthearted "lol" and adding, "They are going to lose the next election," seemingly referencing Brazil’s ruling Workers’ Party under President Lula da Silva.

The incident reignited tensions between Musk and Brazil's political leadership, particularly given his company’s previous run-ins with the Brazilian Supreme Court. Earlier this year, the court temporarily banned X for failing to designate a legal representative and for allegedly facilitating the spread of disinformation. The ban was later lifted after Musk's platform paid a fine of $5.1 million.

Bolsonaro, a polarizing figure who plans to run for the presidency again in 2026, seized the opportunity to amplify Musk’s remarks. Reposting the video, he criticized the situation as another diplomatic blunder for Brazil under its current administration. The former president’s response reflects the ongoing political friction between the leftist government and Brazil’s conservative opposition, fueled by high-profile international incidents like this.

This exchange comes as world leaders prepare for the upcoming G20 summit, set to commence on Monday. The event will focus on global challenges, but Brazil's domestic political strife has once again taken center stage. As the Workers’ Party grapples with criticism and high-stakes diplomatic incidents, the interaction between Janja Lula da Silva and Elon Musk underscores the complexities of governance, technology, and international relations in an era of rapidly evolving digital influence.