President Joe Biden on Wednesday appeared to show his support for a federal investigation of tech billionaire Elon Musk for “national security” purposes related to his recent acquisition of Twitter, Breitbart reported.
During the same press conference, the Democratic president also seemed to suggest that he was prepared to use the full weight of the federal government to prevent his chief Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, from winning a second term in the White House.
Biden suggests Musk should be investigated
In the immediate aftermath of the consequential midterm elections, President Biden held a lengthy press conference on Wednesday that addressed a wide range of topics.
Near the end of the event, Bloomberg News correspondent Jenny Leonard asked, “Mr. President, do you think Elon Musk is a threat to U.S. national security? And should the U.S. — and with the tools you have — investigate his joint acquisition of Twitter with foreign governments, which include the Saudis?”
With a chuckle and a smile, Biden slowly replied, “I think that Elon Musk’s cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at.” He added, “Whether or not he is doing anything inappropriate, I’m not suggesting that. I’m suggesting that it wor- — worth being looked at. And — and — but that’s all I’ll say.”
“Do you think Elon Musk is a threat to national security and should the US… investigate his joint acquisition of Twitter?”
BIDEN: “I think Elon Musk’s technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at.” pic.twitter.com/3tMMlBUz1d
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 10, 2022
It is true that at least one member of the Saudi Royal Family is invested in Twitter, but that isn’t any different than Saudi investments in numerous other U.S.-based tech companies, nor is it anything new or unique to Musk’s purchase of the social media platform, as CNN reported back in 2011 on an initial $300 million stake obtained by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Biden will use government to prevent Trump from regaining presidency
Earlier in the press conference, CNN correspondent Phil Mattingly asked President Biden about how he would be able to reassure allied nations that former President Trump “will not return or that his political movement, which is still very strong, will not — once again take power in the United States?”
Biden also laughed in response to that question and then issued a not-particularly subtle threat to use the power of the federal government to bar Trump from ever regaining executive authority.
“Well, we just have to demonstrate that he will not take power by — if we — if he does run. I’m making sure he, under legitimate efforts of our Constitution, does not become the next President again,” Biden said.
.@Phil_Mattingly on former President Trump: “How do you reassure…that the former president will not return, or that that his political movement, which is still very strong — “
President Biden: “Oh yeah? We just have to demonstrate that he will not take power if he does run.” pic.twitter.com/cvxWe1Z6Wq
— CSPAN (@cspan) November 9, 2022
Former President Trump — and now Elon Musk to a lesser extent — have been stridently accused by Democrats of working to usher in fascist authoritarianism, but here we see two clear-cut examples of President Biden, the supposed champion of decency and democracy and unity, unmistakably implying his willingness to use the power and authority of the federal government to investigate and harass his critics and political opponents.