A surprising diplomatic controversy unfolded ahead of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, sparked by remarks from Brazil’s First Lady, Rosângela "Janja" da Silva, directed at tech billionaire Elon Musk. The incident occurred during the "G20 Social," a forum for activists and NGOs, where Janja spoke about the global challenge of regulating social media to combat disinformation.
During her speech, Janja was interrupted by the sound of a ship’s horn and quipped, “I think it’s Elon Musk.” She then added, “I’m not afraid of you. F*** you, Elon Musk,” drawing applause from the audience. Her comments seemed to reflect growing tensions after Musk criticized Brazilian policies, including a temporary suspension of his platform X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil earlier this year, which he labeled censorship.
Musk responded on X, suggesting political consequences for her husband, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with a cryptic post: “They will lose the next election.” The exchange quickly gained traction online, with former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro warning that Janja’s remarks could strain diplomatic relations between Brazil and the U.S.
The situation is further complicated by Musk’s recent appointment by U.S. President Donald Trump to lead a new Government Efficiency Department. Musk has faced scrutiny in Brazil over X's compliance with local laws, making this clash emblematic of broader tensions between national governments and global tech platforms.
As the G20 Summit approaches, the incident underscores critical issues around free speech, digital platform regulation, and the potential diplomatic challenges such exchanges might pose for Brazil-U.S. relations.