Biden's remarks prompted backlash from US conservatives, many of whom have welcomed Musk's purchase of Twitter [File: Leah Millis] |
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he thinks Twitter boss Elon Musk's relationships with other countries are worthy of being looked at.
Biden was asked at a news conference whether he thought Musk
was a threat to national security and if his acquisition of Twitter with help
from a Saudi Arabian conglomerate should be investigated by the US government.
"I think that Elon Musk's cooperation and/or technical
relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at," Biden
said.
"Whether he is doing anything inappropriate, I'm not
suggesting that. I'm suggesting they're worth being looked at."
The White House said last month that reports the United
States was discussing launching a national security review of some of Musk's
ventures including Twitter were "not true."
Musk's purchase of Twitter sparked concerns that he could
face pressure from countries trying to control online speech.
The world's richest man, Musk is the CEO of electric
carmaker Tesla which counts China as a key market and production base. Tesla
operates a factory in Shanghai, China, which accounted for about half of
Tesla's global deliveries last year.
Musk is also CEO of rocket and satellite internet company
SpaceX, among others.
Musk previously suggested that tensions between China and
Taiwan could be resolved by handing over some control of Taiwan to Beijing.
Musk also said China has sought assurances that he would not offer SpaceX's
Starlink internet service there.
He also proposed Ukraine permanently cede Crimea to Russia,
while saying SpaceX could not indefinitely fund Starlink in Ukraine.
Ian Bremmer, head of political-risk consultancy Eurasia
Group, tweeted that Musk told him that he had spoken with Putin and the Kremlin
directly about Ukraine. Musk denied his claims. © Reuters
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