Brazil’s First Lady, Rosangela “Janja” da Silva, made headlines on Saturday with a fiery comment about Elon Musk during a panel discussion on disinformation ahead of the G20 summit.
The outspoken advocate for tighter social media regulations stunned attendees when startled by a loud noise, she quipped, “I think it’s Elon Musk.”
Her candid remark quickly went viral, circulating widely on X, the social media platform owned by Musk.
The billionaire wasted no time responding, posting on X: “They are going to lose the next election,” punctuated with laughing emojis.
Janja’s comments reignited tensions between Musk and Brazil’s current administration, led by her husband, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Musk, an ally of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, has strained relationships with Brazil’s government since Lula took office.
Earlier this year, the country’s Supreme Court suspended X for 40 days amid allegations the platform failed to curb disinformation.
A move Lula supported as a necessary step to maintain democratic integrity.
Musk’s ties to Bolsonaro, who was disqualified from running for office after being convicted of undermining Brazil’s electoral system, have further polarized opinions.
Despite his disqualification, Bolsonaro has expressed ambitions to run again in 2026.
On Saturday, he added fuel to the fire by sharing a screenshot of Janja’s remark, captioned, “We now have another diplomatic problem.”
Janja’s call for stricter social media oversight underscores the growing global debate on how platforms like X handle misinformation.
Her bold rhetoric ahead of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro has cast a spotlight on the intersection of politics, technology, and accountability.
While Musk and Janja may stand on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, their public clash has highlighted the broader challenges leaders face in navigating the digital age.
As the G20 summit begins, all eyes are on Brazil to see how Lula’s administration will balance addressing these issues with fostering diplomacy on the global stage.
