Elon Musk’s Awkward Selfie Moment With a Chinese Billionaire in Beijing
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- During a high-profile summit in Beijing, an awkward interaction between Elon Musk and Chinese entrepreneur Lei Jun went viral on Chinese social media, overshadowing the main event between President Trump and Xi Jinping.
- Musk, attending with a U.S. delegation, appeared visibly uncomfortable and indifferent when Lei Jun approached him for a selfie at a banquet, leading to widespread online discussion.
- The brief clip was widely shared and Musk himself reposted it on X, his social media platform, sparking mixed reactions about the dynamics between the two business rivals.
- The incident highlighted Musk's complex status in China, where he is both a tech idol and a figure subject to intense public scrutiny and media control.