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| Elon Musk foreign ties worth looking at, Joe Biden says | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President Joe Biden says Elon Musk's relationships with foreign countries are "worthy of being looked at". | US President Joe Biden says Elon Musk's relationships with foreign countries are "worthy of being looked at". |
| Mr Biden was asked whether Mr Musk posed a national security threat and if Saudi Arabia helping him to buy Twitter should be investigated. | Mr Biden was asked whether Mr Musk posed a national security threat and if Saudi Arabia helping him to buy Twitter should be investigated. |
| Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal rolled over a $1.89bn (£1.7bn) Twitter stake into Mr Musk's takeover. | Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal rolled over a $1.89bn (£1.7bn) Twitter stake into Mr Musk's takeover. |
| This month the kingdom's stake drew the attention of a Democratic senator, who called for a probe into the deal. | This month the kingdom's stake drew the attention of a Democratic senator, who called for a probe into the deal. |
| During a news conference at the White House on Wednesday a reporter asked Mr Biden: "Do you think Elon Musk is a threat to US national security and should the US, with the tools you have, investigate his joint acquisition of Twitter with foreign governments, which include the Saudis?" | During a news conference at the White House on Wednesday a reporter asked Mr Biden: "Do you think Elon Musk is a threat to US national security and should the US, with the tools you have, investigate his joint acquisition of Twitter with foreign governments, which include the Saudis?" |
| "Elon Musk's cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at," Mr Biden said. | "Elon Musk's cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at," Mr Biden said. |
| "Whether or not he is doing anything inappropriate -- I'm not suggesting that. I'm suggesting it's worth being looked at. That's all I'll say," he added. | "Whether or not he is doing anything inappropriate -- I'm not suggesting that. I'm suggesting it's worth being looked at. That's all I'll say," he added. |
| Twitter lays off staff at its only Africa office | Twitter lays off staff at its only Africa office |
| Elon Musk sells almost $4bn of Tesla shares | Elon Musk sells almost $4bn of Tesla shares |
| Twitter staff say Musk era sackings have started | Twitter staff say Musk era sackings have started |
| Mr Musk completed his $44bn takeover of Twitter last month putting an end to a prolonged legal battle. The deal was financed by Mr Musk and a group of other investors. | Mr Musk completed his $44bn takeover of Twitter last month putting an end to a prolonged legal battle. The deal was financed by Mr Musk and a group of other investors. |
| Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed and the Kingdom Holding Company are the second largest investor in the newly-private company, according to a filing with the US financial watchdog. | Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed and the Kingdom Holding Company are the second largest investor in the newly-private company, according to a filing with the US financial watchdog. |
| Earlier this month Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called for an immediate investigation into the national security implications of Saudi Arabia's stake in Twitter. | Earlier this month Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called for an immediate investigation into the national security implications of Saudi Arabia's stake in Twitter. |
| "Given Twitter's critical role in public communication, I am concerned by the potential influence of the Government of Saudi Arabia," Mr Murphy, who leads a key Foreign Relations subcommittee, said in a letter. | "Given Twitter's critical role in public communication, I am concerned by the potential influence of the Government of Saudi Arabia," Mr Murphy, who leads a key Foreign Relations subcommittee, said in a letter. |
| Mr Musk has previously waded into contentious topics with comments about Ukraine and Taiwan. | Mr Musk has previously waded into contentious topics with comments about Ukraine and Taiwan. |
| Last month he denied a report that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin before posting a Twitter poll with his suggestions for ending the war with Ukraine. | Last month he denied a report that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin before posting a Twitter poll with his suggestions for ending the war with Ukraine. |
| Ian Bremmer, the head of the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy, said that Mr Musk had personally told him about the conversation with Mr Putin. | Ian Bremmer, the head of the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy, said that Mr Musk had personally told him about the conversation with Mr Putin. |
| "I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space," Mr Musk tweeted. | "I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space," Mr Musk tweeted. |
| Mr Musk has also weighed in on the highly contentious subject of China's relationship with Taiwan. | Mr Musk has also weighed in on the highly contentious subject of China's relationship with Taiwan. |
| In an interview with the Financial Times, the chief executive of Tesla said Taiwan should become a special administrative zone of China. | In an interview with the Financial Times, the chief executive of Tesla said Taiwan should become a special administrative zone of China. |
| China's ambassador to the US praised Mr Musk's comments but his Taiwanese counterpart said freedom is "not for sale". | China's ambassador to the US praised Mr Musk's comments but his Taiwanese counterpart said freedom is "not for sale". |
| Taiwan rules itself but Beijing claims it as part of its territory. | Taiwan rules itself but Beijing claims it as part of its territory. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Watch President Zelensky invite Elon Musk to visit Ukraine "after the war" | Watch President Zelensky invite Elon Musk to visit Ukraine "after the war" |
| Watch President Zelensky invite Elon Musk to visit Ukraine "after the war" | Watch President Zelensky invite Elon Musk to visit Ukraine "after the war" |