‘Modi ji should announce a ceasefire': Internet flooded with memes amid Donald Trump vs Elon Musk war of words
US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk are at war of words, and bystanders, including Indians, are quipping about a complete cessation under a ceasefire deal. As the most powerful president and richest man on Earth fired salvos from their social media trenches, meme-makers rose to the occasion, memes about Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepping in to broker peace.
The meme wave started soon after Trump and Musk began sniping at each other over everything from trade policies and elections to bruises and government subsidies.
One 'X' user wrote, 'Modi ji should announce a ceasefire between Musk & Trump,' setting the tone for what would become a full-blown meme fest. The post has 143.5K views on the Musk-owned social media platform, 'X'.
However, the reference comes from rather significant development last month during India-Pakistan cross-border tension, when US President Trump was the one who made the public statement announcing a cessation of military action between the two neighbouring countries.
Though India had firmly denied the role of any third-party interference, Trump had repeatedly claimed credit for the "ceasefire" between New Delhi and Islamabad.
This background gave meme-makers the perfect setting. An account parodying PM Modi posted: 'After a long night of talks mediated by India, I am pleased to announce that Donald Trump & Elon Musk have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both individuals on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.'
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also joined in, she shared a screenshot of Musk's criticism of Trump, in the caption she wrote, 'SOS: call for ceasefire !!'
Another user posted, 'BREAKING: PM Modi takes credit for ceasefire between Elon & Trump. Elon & Trump denied any third person was involved. PM Modi posts it on X after the denial.' One more added, 'Zelensky demands ceasefire between Trump and Elon.'
The meme reactions, while humorous, came against the backdrop of an unusually public and personal spat between Trump and Musk. What started as policy disagreements quickly turned into name-calling and accusations.
This comes days after SpaceX CEO stepped down from a key role in Trump administration as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief – the agency tasked with saving taxpayers money and reducing US national debt.
The reason why the two billionaires' relationship deteriorated just days after hosting a joint press conference at the Oval Office still remains unclear. However, Musk had earlier issued a criticism of Trump administration's 'The One Big Beautiful Bill', calling it a a 'disgusting abomination" and a 'massive spending bill.'
Also read | What did Elon Musk say about Donald Trump's bill before quitting DOGE?
Earlier on Thursday, Trump said he was 'very disappointed in Elon.'
In response, Musk wrote on X: 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election... Such ingratitude.'
'The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year,' he added in another post.
In another social media remark, Musk wrote, 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!'
Trump retaliated on his social media platform Truth Social, he wrote, 'I was always surprised that Biden didn't wipe out Musk's government subsidies!'
Soon after, 'THE GIRLS ARE FIGHTING' began trending on 'X', summing up how the internet viewed the feud.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
7 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Is the Trump-Musk bromance over? Donald ‘would assume so'
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that his relationship with billionaire Elon Musk is likely over, telling NBC News, 'I would assume so, yeah,' when asked directly about the fallout. In the telephonic interview, Trump also warned of 'serious consequences' if Musk goes ahead with plans to fund Democratic candidates running against Republicans who support Trump's sweeping tax-cut bill. However, Trump declined to elaborate on what those consequences might be. He also said he had not had discussions about whether Musk should be investigated, stating: 'I have not had discussions about that.' The comments mark a sharp turn in what was once considered a powerful alliance between the President and the Tesla and SpaceX chief, now fractured by rifts.
New Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Our dangerous blindness to the ocean
We are a civilisation that worships rivers but largely turns its back on the sea. For millennia, India's cultural imagination has flowed along the sacred courses of the Ganga and Yamuna. The vast ocean surrounding our peninsula remains, in our collective consciousness, little more than a blue blank space on the map. This is more than an oversight -- it is a dangerous blindness. The truth we must confront is this: India's future will be written not just in the soil of our farmlands or the concrete of our cities, but in the rising waters of our warming seas. The ocean has always been with us, even when we refused to see it. In school, we all learn about the water cycle, which starts and ends in the oceans. It is the ocean that breathes life into our monsoons and moderates the climate that shapes our lives. Its rhythms still dictate the success of our crops and the state of our economy. Small-scale fishers joyously battle the waves and feed millions with a wide diversity of fish. A vast decentralised network of fish vendors transport fish to the coastal hinterlands. Not to forget the thousands of persons busy with a battery of ancillary marine services and industries on the coast. The ocean thus sustains millions of livelihoods along our 7,500 km coastline. Yet until cyclones surge through our cities or fish prices skyrocket in our markets, we urban Indians, our policymakers in Delhi, and academics in landlocked universities, barely give the ocean a thought. This ignorance comes at a cost. As I write, the Indian Ocean is warming faster than any other body of water on Earth. The same waters that gave us the monsoon system are now turning against us, becoming engines of climate chaos. Unpredictable rains, intensifying cyclones, disappearing fish stocks -- these are not distant concerns, but clear and present dangers to our national security, our food systems, our very way of life. Yet there is hope in this crisis. The ocean that threatens us also holds solutions. Sustainable fisheries could nourish our growing population. Marine ecosystems can be our allies in carbon sequestration. Wind and waves can power our energy transition. But to harness this potential, we must first do what we have failed to do for centuries: develop a true relationship with our blue heritage. This relationship must be built on three foundations: First, we must expand our imagination of what ocean values mean to India. Beyond fish and ports and naval strategy, the sea is a socio-cultural touchstone. The Karnataka fisherman singing to the waves as he sets his nets; the Gujarati shipwright crafting vessels using centuries-old techniques; the Odia grandmother telling stories of sea gods to her grandchildren; the family in Pondicherry enjoying a holiday snorkeling to observe the artificial reefs -- these are as much part of our ocean relationship as any industrial plan. Second, we must democratise our ocean governance. Too often, decisions about our seas are made by those who are very distant and view them only as resources to extract or spaces to control. Our coastal panchayats, municipalities, and corporations (LSGs) need a greater say in the governance of at least four nautical miles out to sea. Also, the traditional knowledge of fishing communities, the concerns of coastal residents, the visions of marine scientists - all must have equal weight in shaping policy. When a new port is planned or a fishing zone restricted, those most affected must have real voice in the decision. Third, we must invest hugely in ocean justice. The ocean economy cannot be another arena where the powerful prosper while traditional users are displaced. Consider the Koli navigators of Mumbai, who for 40 generations have read monsoon winds and currents to practice sustainable harvests. Their ancestral fishing calendars now clash with commercial trawling operations that ignore seasonal bans. Then there are the Pattinavar pearl divers of Tamil Nadu, who free-dive to 20 meters without equipment, recover oysters using techniques unchanged since the Sangam era. Their sustainable practices are threatened by mechanised dredging. The traditional ichthyologists of Kerala, elderly masters of marine biology who can identify 300+ species and their breeding cycles, are also seeing their knowledge vanishing as youth leave for cities. A final example is of the women seaweed collectors of Goa, who harvest algae using lunar cycles, creating nutritious seaweed snacks while restoring marine biodiversity. The occupational and human rights of these, and numerous other niche livelihoods, must be protected as we develop new industries. Blue growth must not become blue grabbing. The path forward is clear, though not easy. We must bring ocean literacy into our schools, so the next generation grows up understanding the sea that surrounds them. We must direct research funding to study not just ocean resources but ocean relationships. We must create platforms where scientists work with fishers, where policymakers listen to coastal communities and where our business leaders establish partnerships with conservationists. This is not just about saving the ocean -- it is about saving ourselves. For a nation that prides itself on ancient wisdom, we have been remarkably slow to learn this simple truth: we are an ocean civilisation, whether we acknowledge it or not. The waves that lap our shores carry both warnings and opportunities. The question is whether we will finally pay attention. As India stands on the brink of unprecedented development, we face a choice. We can continue our terrestrial myopia, treating the ocean as an afterthought until crisis forces our hand. Or we can embrace our blue heritage and ocean values, recognising that our future prosperity, our climate resilience, and even our cultural identity are all inextricably linked to the health of our seas. The ocean has never abandoned us, even when we turned away. Now, as the planet changes around us, it is time we turned back - with wonder, with curiosity, with humility, and with the determination to build a relationship worthy of this magnificent, life-giving force that surrounds and sustains us all. (John Kurien is a former Professor, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, Kerala. He can be reached at
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Self-deporting via app? US offers $1,000 and travel aid for undocumented immigrants
The US Embassy in India Saturday again addressed foreign nationals in the United States announcing incentives for those willing to leave. In a post on X, the US Embassy warned international individuals illegally present in the country to leave immediately. However, it followed this message with what it called a 'historic opportunity for foreign nationals who wish to leave the United States, including those unlawfully present.' The statement said: 'Depending on their circumstances, they might receive financial and other assistance from the US government to depart.' Those interested have been directed to register through the Trump administration's self-deportation Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App. The US government is promoting the CBP Home App for its incentives tied to voluntary exits of illegal immigrants. US Secretary of Homeland Security described self-deportation as the 'best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest.' Foreign nationals in the United States residing illegally should leave immediately. The Department of Homeland Security has announced an historic opportunity for foreign nationals who wish to leave the United States, including those unlawfully present. Depending on their… — U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 7, 2025 'DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App. This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70 per cent savings for US taxpayers,' she added. Currently, the DHS claims that the average cost to arrest, detain and deport someone from the US is $17,121, The Guardian reported. According to the official Homeland Security website, incentives tied to self-deportation include a $1,000 stipend, and financial and travel document assistance. The stipend is granted once confirmation is received through the CBP Home App that the return has been completed. Those who voluntarily register may also receive help with booking tickets and obtaining necessary travel documentation. 'Aliens requesting assistance will have a timely departure arrangement facilitated for them (estimated departure to be within 21 days of approval),' the website states. Other incentives include a longer departure period for self-funded travellers, deprioritisation for detention or removal by ICE, and improved chances for future immigration options. The DHS outlines two eligible categories: 'Non-criminal aliens illegally in the United States who had an encounter with CBP either at a port of entry or between ports of entry' and 'categorical parolees whose legal presence in the United States has expired or will soon expire.' Applicants must be physically present in the US at the time of applying. Just days earlier, the US Embassy in India had issued another alert for visa overstayers, warning they 'risk arrest and heavy fines or incarceration… may be deported and could face a permanent ban on future travel to the United States.'
