An 81 year old Democratic congresswoman made a speech on the House floor today criticizing Elon Musk, alleging Musk tanked the spending bill in order to protect his investments in China.
Musk responded by using X AI to create images of the congresswoman
Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) accused Elon Musk of working to kill Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) initial bipartisan spending proposal because it would have regulated his investments in China.
DeLauro said in a statement Friday she “sent a letter to congressional leadership raising concerns that Elon Musk may have upended the government funding process to remove a provision that would regulate U.S. investments in China.” Her statement added:
“The four corners of the Appropriations Committee and Congressional leadership reached a government funding deal earlier this week that included a key provision that would screen U.S. investments in critical sectors in China,” said DeLauro. “Musk’s investments in China and his ties with the Chinese Community Party have only grown over the last few years with Tesla’s Shanghai plant producing about 50 percent of Tesla’s global automobile output. It is no surprise ‘President’ Musk does not want to see a funding deal containing this provision be signed into law.”
In the letter she wrote, “ It is particularly disturbing that Musk may have sought to upend this critical negotiated agreement to remove a bipartisan provision regulating U.S. investments in China in order to protect his wallet and the Chinese Communist Party at the expense of American workers, innovators, and businesses.”
Later in the letter, she added, “Given the need for Chinese government approvals for his company’s projects in the country, it is similarly unsurprising, yet concerning, that Musk has ingratiated himself with Chinese Communist Party leadership. In April of this year, for example, Musk met with Chinese premier Li Qiang, who helped rush the construction of Tesla’s Shanghai gigafactory when he was still the secretary of the city’s Communist Party.” DeLauro concluded by noting Musk’s long history of taking U.S. government subsidies to help build his company and personal wealth:
Musk’s ties to China, and Tesla’s significant investments in the country, are especially concerning in light of the significant U.S. federal, state, and local financial support Tesla and Musk’s other companies have received. From Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 to present, Tesla has received nearly $3 billion in taxpayer subsidies and more than $466 million in federal loans, and since 2008, the company has benefited from $41.9 million in federal contracts. Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, received more than $100 million in federal loans and taxpayer subsidies since FY 2000, and has won nearly $19.8 billion in federal contracts since 2008. Some of those contracts include partnerships with U.S. government agencies to “work toward accelerating the knowledge and critical technology” needed to support further space travel. All told, according to federal contracting data, “Musk’s business deals with the government total nearly $20 billion” over the past 16 years.
Musk responded to DeLauro’s accusation by ridiculing the 81-year-old lawmaker’s appearance. Musk posted an AI-generated image of DeLauro as a kind of monster and wrote, “Turns out that Washington DC swamp creatures are real.”
Standard mini me response all he and trump can do is try and ridicule. The fact is that she is correct with his business dealings in China, do you think that Musk is immune to helping himself before the US..WTF UP
I find it amazing that Trump got up and told his supporters (with a little laugh ... like a child) that Musk cannot be PotUS since he is not a natural born citizen. That totally misses the point that Musk just might be using Trump to get as close to the presidency as he can.
I do not believe Musk will succeed in controlling Trump (as a puppet) but I do believe that this is largely his intent. Musk is already king of the private sector and it makes perfect sense that he wants to extend his dominance by infiltrating the public sector. Great for Musk, not so great for everyone else.
This will be interesting to watch. Hard to imagine these two egos coexisting for very long.
It does bear observation that Trump is noticing Musk's 'maneuvering' him into a position where he has to speak out. . . 'forcefully,' but with diplomacy. Damn! Interesting who it is that cows Trump. Just imagine: Donald, as president, gets put into his place by the world's richest man. What a 'disaster!'
Indeed inevitable. The 'clash' of egos as to who shall be king of the mountain begins. (It will get worse if the world's richest man takes a liking to this and (immediately) begins to foment a plan to effectively change the system. Which 'group' of men alone can withstand the onslaught of excessive millions? Emphasis on: "Alone."
Note: I see what you did there with the image and yes I can see a ('black') Santa under the hat!
Happy that you think so, Sean. She was correct and right to question his motives, he not been elected to any postion in the US government yet seems to believe that he can influence decisions. The best he can do is ridicule her, is that something he learned from his mini me, Trump or did mini me teach Musk.
Democrats love their pork; and Establishment Republicans love to enable Democrat largesse.
That is what she is pissed off about- she isn't getting the pork the Democrats need so damn badly.
Also, no fucking pay raises for the politicians that ran this country into the ditch. Tax payers shouldn't be on the hook for any more money going to these massive fuckups than they are.
It is past time for Establishment Republicans to stop being Democrat spending enablers.
It is a narrative (similar to the 'welfare queen') that some conservatives ' only ' pay taxes. . . case in point:
September 28, 2020
Washington CNN — Donald Trump paid no federal income taxes whatsoever in 10 out of 15 years beginning in 2000 because he reported losing significantly more than he made, according to an explosive report released Sunday by the New York Times. (Emphasis CB.)
In both the year he won the presidency and his first year in the White House, Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes, the Times reported.
Detailing payments gleaned from more than two decades of tax information, the Times report outlines extensive financial losses and years of tax avoidance that deal a blow to the business-tycoon brand Trump has built his political career on.
At a White House briefing Sunday, Trump denied the New York Times story and claimed that he pays “a lot” in federal income taxes.
“I pay a lot, and I pay a lot in state income taxes,” he said.
Trump added that he is willing to release his tax returns once he is no longer under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, which he said “treats me badly.” The President, however, is under no obligation to hold his tax returns while under audit, despite his repeated claims otherwise.
Trump also refused to answer how much he has paid in federal taxes in the briefing and walked out to shouted questions from CNN’s Jeremy Diamond on the topic.
Lindsey Graham: 'It's Really American' To Avoid Taxes Like Mitt Romney Does
WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney shouldn't be criticized for using off-shore tax havens because "it's really American to avoid paying taxes, legally," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Tuesday.
Graham argued that Congress is responsible for tax avoidance because it has crafted such convoluted rules and said he was fine with Romney's taking advantage of the loopholes.
"As long as it was legal, I'm OK with it," Graham said. "I don't blame anybody for using the tax code to their advantage. I blame us for having it so complicated and confused. Pick a rate and make people pay it."
In the meantime, anything within the rules goes, he argued.
"It's a game we play," Graham said. "Every American tries to find the way to get the most deductions they can. I see nothing wrong with playing the game because we set it up to be a game."
The senator's solution to such gamesmanship is a major overhaul of the tax system, similar to the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan that calls for lowering rates while closing loopholes.
"I want to end the game," Graham said. "I want to make it so simple that you know what you owe, and if you don't pay, we're going to whack the heck out of you. It's a game, and people play the game to their advantage. Sometimes they lose when they play the game. I've got no problem with people playing the game, as long as they don't cheat."
"As long as they don't cheat." —Of course 'they' cheat! Which is why "the game" is rigged for "wizardry" (of course, the wealthy have 'banks of deductibles') used by the wealthy to hide their wealth (biblically, in large barns' so they can admire it forever). Helping only those they deem as 'worthy' while feeding off the national 'community."
Linsey is right: It is a game—it comes with lies and half-truths and it is pathetic.
Contrary to popular right wing lies, it has long been the GOP who have been the traditional "tax and spenders". And their spending never goes to helping out We the People.
Some conservatives only respect spending that goes their way for their moral positions. It's really quite sad and damning for a nation like ourselves. We are an 'experiment' that lives. . .and has the capacity to fix itself yet has fellow citizens that literally THRIVE in continuing 'brokenness'!
Incidentally, (below this comment there is a picture of) Elon Musk is a naturalized citizen of our fine country, and bears the distinction as richest man in the world. . . and it is disgusting that instead of coming to make 'us' better he would choose to AID us by using his 'god-like' wealth to make us a SICKER nation.
Musk's involvement in the government is the biggest conflict of interest I've ever seen. The guy has billions in government contracts, and can apparently control congressional Republicans with a tweet.
I've already seen enough of Elon Musk to know that I don't want a Tesla ever. He is apparently not only the world's wealthiest man. . . but, equal parts scoundrel too.
“A nationwide search has begun to locate anyone who voted for Elon Musk. The leader of the manhunt said searchers had yet to turn up a single Musk voter, which he thought odd given that Mr. Musk is the most powerful person in the U.S. government.”
Oh please. Musk is either a serious person in government or he is not. Mocking an 81 year old woman by turning her face into that of a horror movie character is totally no class.
Given how the 'president Musk' meme seems to have caught on big, this is almost certainly driving a wedge between Trump and Musk. Those two egos were unlikely to coexist in the first place, but this public humiliation of Trump is an attack on his biggest vulnerability — his fragile ego. Something will give ... soon.
www.mediaite.com /politics/house-dem-accuses-musk-of-killing-initial-spending-deal-to-protect-his-investments-in-china-musk-hits-back-with-ai-image/
Rosa DeLauro Accuses Musk of Protecting China Investment
Alex Griffing 4-4 minutes 12/20/2024
House Dem Accuses Musk of Killing Initial Spending Deal to Protect His Investments In China, Musk Hits Back With AI Image
Alex Griffing Dec 20th, 2024, 6:52 pm
Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) accused Elon Musk of working to kill Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) initial bipartisan spending proposal because it would have regulated his investments in China.
DeLauro said in a statement Friday she “sent a letter to congressional leadership raising concerns that Elon Musk may have upended the government funding process to remove a provision that would regulate U.S. investments in China.” Her statement added:
In the letter she wrote, “ It is particularly disturbing that Musk may have sought to upend this critical negotiated agreement to remove a bipartisan provision regulating U.S. investments in China in order to protect his wallet and the Chinese Communist Party at the expense of American workers, innovators, and businesses.”
Later in the letter, she added, “Given the need for Chinese government approvals for his company’s projects in the country, it is similarly unsurprising, yet concerning, that Musk has ingratiated himself with Chinese Communist Party leadership. In April of this year, for example, Musk met with Chinese premier Li Qiang, who helped rush the construction of Tesla’s Shanghai gigafactory when he was still the secretary of the city’s Communist Party.” DeLauro concluded by noting Musk’s long history of taking U.S. government subsidies to help build his company and personal wealth:
Musk responded to DeLauro’s accusation by ridiculing the 81-year-old lawmaker’s appearance. Musk posted an AI-generated image of DeLauro as a kind of monster and wrote, “Turns out that Washington DC swamp creatures are real.”
Read DeLauro’s full statement here .
Standard mini me response all he and trump can do is try and ridicule. The fact is that she is correct with his business dealings in China, do you think that Musk is immune to helping himself before the US..WTF UP
God help us.
Too late. Only the ineptitudes of the incoming administration can protect us now.
President Musk?...
That’s incorrect of course. Musk will be “Supreme Mystic” and “Personal Healer” to the president.
Mmmm, are those official posts? Never heard of them...
Paula White is Trumps ‘’Spiritual Advisor’’, I guess that would count.
That’s what they called Rasputin.
Musk and Putin are running the show after Jan. 20th, trump isn't smart enough to tie his own shoes, he's nothing but a figurehead.
No doubt, wonder if he'll faceplant... /s
Nope, won't happen. Musk is not a natural born US citizen as is required by law
I find it amazing that Trump got up and told his supporters (with a little laugh ... like a child) that Musk cannot be PotUS since he is not a natural born citizen. That totally misses the point that Musk just might be using Trump to get as close to the presidency as he can.
I do not believe Musk will succeed in controlling Trump (as a puppet) but I do believe that this is largely his intent. Musk is already king of the private sector and it makes perfect sense that he wants to extend his dominance by infiltrating the public sector. Great for Musk, not so great for everyone else.
This will be interesting to watch. Hard to imagine these two egos coexisting for very long.
It does bear observation that Trump is noticing Musk's 'maneuvering' him into a position where he has to speak out. . . 'forcefully,' but with diplomacy. Damn! Interesting who it is that cows Trump. Just imagine: Donald, as president, gets put into his place by the world's richest man. What a 'disaster!'
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas CB!
Yeah, Musk is clearly bugging Trump. Not on purpose, but it is inevitable.
Agreed. And Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas, Ed.
Indeed inevitable. The 'clash' of egos as to who shall be king of the mountain begins. (It will get worse if the world's richest man takes a liking to this and (immediately) begins to foment a plan to effectively change the system. Which 'group' of men alone can withstand the onslaught of excessive millions? Emphasis on: "Alone."
Note: I see what you did there with the image and yes I can see a ('black') Santa under the hat!
The black Santa was just a coincidence ... not going to take credit for being clever.
It's a most 'beautiful' image with its symbolism!
She's the perfect representative of the Democratic party.
Happy that you think so, Sean. She was correct and right to question his motives, he not been elected to any postion in the US government yet seems to believe that he can influence decisions. The best he can do is ridicule her, is that something he learned from his mini me, Trump or did mini me teach Musk.
Democrats love their pork; and Establishment Republicans love to enable Democrat largesse.
That is what she is pissed off about- she isn't getting the pork the Democrats need so damn badly.
Also, no fucking pay raises for the politicians that ran this country into the ditch. Tax payers shouldn't be on the hook for any more money going to these massive fuckups than they are.
It is past time for Establishment Republicans to stop being Democrat spending enablers.
True. Democrats love it when the taxpayers' money is used to help the taxpayers and the country. Elon has enough.
They could always not tax them so much
I doubt the people who actually pay the taxes would agree.
I pay the taxes.
It is a narrative (similar to the 'welfare queen') that some conservatives ' only ' pay taxes. . . case in point:
"As long as they don't cheat." —Of course 'they' cheat! Which is why "the game" is rigged for "wizardry" (of course, the wealthy have 'banks of deductibles') used by the wealthy to hide their wealth (biblically, in large barns' so they can admire it forever). Helping only those they deem as 'worthy' while feeding off the national 'community."
Linsey is right: It is a game—it comes with lies and half-truths and it is pathetic.
Contrary to popular right wing lies, it has long been the GOP who have been the traditional "tax and spenders". And their spending never goes to helping out We the People.
Some conservatives only respect spending that goes their way for their moral positions. It's really quite sad and damning for a nation like ourselves. We are an 'experiment' that lives. . .and has the capacity to fix itself yet has fellow citizens that literally THRIVE in continuing 'brokenness'!
Incidentally, (below this comment there is a picture of) Elon Musk is a naturalized citizen of our fine country, and bears the distinction as richest man in the world. . . and it is disgusting that instead of coming to make 'us' better he would choose to AID us by using his 'god-like' wealth to make us a SICKER nation.
Musk's involvement in the government is the biggest conflict of interest I've ever seen. The guy has billions in government contracts, and can apparently control congressional Republicans with a tweet.
I've already seen enough of Elon Musk to know that I don't want a Tesla ever. He is apparently not only the world's wealthiest man. . . but, equal parts scoundrel too.
He's not wrong.
It IS wrong to mock the physical appearance of an 81 year old. At least where I come from.
But a 78 year old is okay?..
If you are over 40 and you die your hair purple, you are seeking mockery. You have nobody to blame but yourself.
Oh please. Musk is either a serious person in government or he is not. Mocking an 81 year old woman by turning her face into that of a horror movie character is totally no class.
I dont recall Chuck Schumer or Nancy Pelosi posting memes of Trump as a fat ass.
Serious? You've seen this woman? WTF are we talking about?
I never claimed it was classy. But let's not pretend she's classy, either.
If you're going to take to the House floor and go after a private citizen for his social media posts, you need to be ready for that fight.
No, but the Trump memes from private citizens are too numerous to count.
And, BTW, good for those people. Mockery of elected officials is one of the signs that we still live in a free society.
Perhaps, I'm not on X so don't follow either. I find it hard to believe that either account has never posted a meme about Trump though...
Given how the 'president Musk' meme seems to have caught on big, this is almost certainly driving a wedge between Trump and Musk. Those two egos were unlikely to coexist in the first place, but this public humiliation of Trump is an attack on his biggest vulnerability — his fragile ego. Something will give ... soon.