As the two met in Brazil on Friday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro described Elon Musk's proposed purchase of Twitter as a "breath of hope," adding that he hoped the US billionaire would help erase the "lies" about his much-criticized care of the Amazon rainforest.
Bolsonaro met with Elon Musk, the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla and rocket business SpaceX, to discuss rural Internet connectivity and Amazon monitoring. The meeting takes place at a very emotional period for both men.
Bolsonaro faces a tough re-election struggle in October and has grown increasingly isolated in the international arena, while Musk was accused of harassment in a news piece on Thursday, which he denies.
Bolsonaro, a far-right nationalist, has attacked major social media sites for attempting to combat disinformation, including removing his unfounded claims tying COVID-19 vaccines to the development of AIDS. Musk, dubbed a "legend of liberty" by Bolsonaro, has promised to defend free expression on Twitter.
Bolsonaro has been widely chastised for pushing for more mining and agriculture in the Amazon and Brazil's environmental deterioration. According to recent satellite data, deforestation in Brazil's Amazon has reached a 15-year high under Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro praised Musk's bid for Twitter while speaking with him at a fancy hotel in the countryside near São Paulo, calling it "a breath of hope."
"We need Elon Musk, and we're counting on him," he said at a press conference, "for the Amazon to be known by all in Brazil and the world, to illustrate... how we've safeguarded it, and how much harm is inflicted by those who disseminate misinformation about that region."
Bolsonaro later raved about meeting Musk during a press appearance without him. "It's the beginning of a relationship that I'm confident will lead to marriage," he remarked.
Musk's purchase of Twitter, according to Bolsonaro, will represent "the freedom of the press that we always want and demand, entire freedom, without restriction."
Bolsonaro also stated that Musk's rockets would be allowed to use Brazil's Alcántara space base near the equator.
Musk said on Friday afternoon that he wanted to talk about more rainforest monitoring and a plan to offer broadband internet to remote regions, something he had already discussed with Bolsonaro's government.
After landing in São Paulo, Musk was received by business executives like Telecom Italia Chief Executive Pietro Fabiola and Banco BTG Factual Chairman Andre Estévez. Still, he was not asked about the harassment claims.
Musk's meeting with Bolsonaro, a longstanding conservative firebrand who defends Brazil's military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, is emblematic of his personal politics' rightward tilt. He previously voted for Democrats but would now vote for Republicans, he stated on Wednesday.
Musk's visit was a public relations victory for Bolsonaro, who has alarmed world observers since many worried he may refuse to hand over power if he loses the October poll.
Bolsonaro also stated that Musk's rockets would be allowed to use Brazil's Alcántara space base near the equator.
Former US President Donald Trump lost an ally when he failed his re-election bid in 2020, and Bolsonaro has not spoken with US Vice President Joe Biden since the Democrat assumed office.
Bolsonaro has been widely chastised for pushing for more mining and agriculture in the Amazon and Brazil's environmental deterioration. According to recent satellite data, deforestation in Brazil's Amazon has reached a 15-year high under Bolsonaro.
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