logo
Elon Musk comments on LA protest turmoil

Elon Musk comments on LA protest turmoil

Russia Today2 days ago

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has denounced the violent protests raging for a third consecutive day in Los Angeles, California. The rallies, which have sporadically escalated into brutal clashes, followed widespread immigration raids conducted by law enforcement across the city.
The unrest began on Friday and intensified on Saturday in the cities of Paramount and Compton, following a series of immigration raids that resulted in over 100 arrests. Demonstrators attempted to block Border Patrol vehicles, with some throwing rocks and debris at officers. In response, federal agents fired tear gas, pepper balls, and flash-bang grenades.
Musk took to X to share a photo of a masked rioter standing on the roof of a demolished Waymo car, waving a Mexican flag and surrounded by other vehicles burned to the ground.
'This is not OK,' the billionaire wrote.
Waymo, Alphabet's provider of driverless rides, has suspended its service in downtown Los Angeles 'until it is deemed safe,' after multiple vehicles erupted in flames amid the ongoing protests.
This is not ok pic.twitter.com/feOtg6f6ge
Musk's post marks his first public statement in support of the US government following a public falling-out with President Donald Trump. Last week, the standoff between the two former allies over Trump's 'Big and Beautiful' tax and spending bill escalated into a series of jabs on social media.
On Sunday, the US president ordered the deployment of 2,000 troops from the National Guard, vowing to 'liberate' Los Angeles from what he described as an 'invasion' by criminal migrants. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi have been instructed to coordinate with federal agencies to quell the unrest, according to Trump.
The federal response has been strongly opposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who condemned a 'takeover' of the state's National Guard as unconstitutional and politically motivated. Newsom has demanded that President Trump rescind the order and return control of the troops to the state.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump says he could forgive Musk
Trump says he could forgive Musk

Russia Today

time3 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Trump says he could forgive Musk

US President Donald Trump says he could forgive Elon Musk after a public falling-out that saw the Tesla CEO lash out over one of the administration's flagship policy initiatives. The dispute between the two men, who were once close allies, turned ugly last week over what Trump called his 'Big Beautiful' tax and spending bill. Musk, who recently stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), repeatedly criticized the bill, arguing it undermined his efforts to cut waste from the federal budget. Musk accused Trump of 'ingratitude,' while backing calls for his impeachment and threatening to hamstring the US space program by grounding the Dragon spacecraft. Trump fired back, saying Musk had 'gone crazy,' blaming the spat on the end of the 'EV mandate' – a reference to federal incentives that had benefited Tesla. Musk responded with a now-deleted post that linked Trump to deceased convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In an interview published by The New York Post on Wednesday, Trump said 'I have no hard feelings. But I was really surprised that that happened.' He called the bill 'phenomenal' and said he was disappointed by Musk's response. 'When he did that, I was not a happy camper.' Asked if he could forgive Musk, Trump replied: 'I guess I could,' adding that he was now focused on how to 'straighten out the country.' Hours before the interview aired, Musk appeared to say he was sorry about attacking the president. He wrote on X that he regrets 'some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week,' adding that 'They went too far.' Musk did not clarify which of his posts he was referring to. Media reports have suggested that his associates and the White House are engaged in backchannel communications aimed at easing tensions. Asked about the apology in a follow-up call with the Post on Wednesday morning, Trump said: 'I thought it was very nice that he (Musk) did that.'

Musk expresses ‘regret' for attacks on Trump
Musk expresses ‘regret' for attacks on Trump

Russia Today

time3 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Musk expresses ‘regret' for attacks on Trump

Elon Musk has said he went 'too far' with some of his recent social media posts targeting US President Donald Trump. The two traded threats and insults online last week, in a row that was widely viewed as an end of their 'bromance.' 'I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,' Musk said on his X account early on Wednesday morning. Musk claims he sponsored Trump's run for a second term in the White House to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, which he insists was crucial for the Republican candidate's victory last November. After taking office, Trump appointed Musk to serve as head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with slashing wasteful government expenditure. In recent weeks, however, the tech entrepreneur has emerged as a vocal critic of Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful bill' that requires Congressional approval to fund the president's second term policy priorities. Musk branded the proposal full of 'pork' and claimed it reneged on the campaign promise to decrease the federal debt. Trump claimed last week that Musk opposed the bill out of self-interest, which triggered a barrage of increasingly hostile posts between the pair. The president branded Musk 'crazy,' while the tech billionaire alleged that Trump was complicit in the sex offenses of late financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Musk later deleted the post. Musk did not specify which of his previous posts he now found regrettable. Media reports have suggested that his associates and the White House were engaged in backchannel communications in a bid to deflate the tensions. Trump publicly said he was not interested in direct contacts with Musk, but later appeared to tone down his rhetoric toward the entrepreneur.

Trump claims deal with China ‘is done'
Trump claims deal with China ‘is done'

Russia Today

time7 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Trump claims deal with China ‘is done'

Washington has finalized a long-sought trade deal with Beijing, US President Donald Trump announced on social media on Wednesday. The agreement is still awaiting his final approval and that of Chinese President Xi Jinping, he added. Tensions between the world's two largest economies escalated in April, when Trump imposed broad new tariffs targeting over 90 countries, including China, citing trade imbalances. Beijing retaliated, triggering a standoff that pushed tariffs up to 145% by the US and 125% by China. Following breakthrough negotiations in Geneva last month, both sides agreed to temporarily suspend most new tariffs, pending further talks. However, each side has since accused the other of violating the Geneva terms and stalling talks on key issues, such as export controls. 'Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me,' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. The full details remain unclear, although the US leader outlined some key points. 'We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent!' Trump wrote. 'Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front by China. Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities.' Neither the White House nor Chinese authorities have commented on Trump's announcement. Commenting on Wednesday after two days of talks in London, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters a framework deal had been reached, calling it 'meat on the bones' of the Geneva agreement. He cited China agreeing to lift restrictions on rare earth exports and Washington easing certain export bans 'in a balanced way,' but offered no further details. China's vice commerce minister, Li Chenggang, also confirmed a trade framework had been reached 'in principle' pending approval from both leaders. The new round of talks followed a phone call between Trump and Xi last week, which the US president described as 'very good.' Chinese exports of rare earth minerals and magnets, critical for modern technology, were high on the London talks agenda. The US had previously criticized Beijing for delaying the removal of export controls on the resources, essential for manufacturing products such as smartphones and electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Washington limited China's access to US semiconductors and other technologies linked to artificial intelligence. It remains unclear if the restrictions will be lifted under the new deal. The two sides face an August 10 deadline to finalize a broader trade deal or possibly see tariffs return to the triple-digit levels imposed in April.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store