Trump and Musk Re-Engage After Months of Silence, Amidst Other International Developments
Following months of limited dialog, US president Donald Trump has indicated a positive relationship with Elon Musk and expressed a desire to meet with him this year.
The development comes as the US government continues to press north Korea for the complete dismantling of its nuclear programme, a country currently facing extensive UN and US sanctions due to its nuclear ambitions.
Meanwhile, discussions surrounding the future of TikTok in the United States are ongoing. President Trump revealed that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan Murdoch, may be involved in a potential operation of the video platform. Trump specifically mentioned a “man named Lachlan” and indicated Rupert Murdoch would “probably” be part of the investor group, alongside previously named potential investors Oracle boss Larry Ellison and Dell boss michael Dell. Lachlan Murdoch currently leads Fox Corporation and Fox News, and recently resolved a dispute with his siblings regarding the future control of the family company. This news arrives after Trump filed a billion-dollar lawsuit against rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal in July, following the paper’s reporting on his past relationships with Jeffrey Epstein.
Negotiations between washington and Beijing regarding TikTok ownership in the US are also progressing. President Trump recently extended the deadline for the sale of the company, which is owned by the Chinese group ByteDance, and the White House announced on saturday that any company taking over TikTok’s US operations must be run by US citizens, with a contract expected to be signed in the “coming days.”
In a separate development, Venezuelan President Nicolás maduro sent a letter to President Trump, denying Venezuela’s involvement in the drug trade and expressing a willingness to engage in dialogue. The letter was published by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez on social media after initial reports surfaced.
