Joe Biden thinks Twitter boss Elon Musk\u2019s relationships with other countries is \u201cworthy of being looked at\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden was asked at a news conference on Wednesday whether he thought Musk was a threat to national security and if his\u00a0acquisition of Twitter with help from a Saudi Arabian conglomerate should be investigated by the US government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that Elon Musk\u2019s cooperation and\/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at,\u201d Biden said. \u201cWhether he is doing anything inappropriate, I\u2019m not suggesting that. I\u2019m suggesting they\u2019re worth being looked at.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, among the richest Middle East investors, and his investment firm has emerged as the second-largest investor in Twitter after Musk\u2019s takeover of the social media platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two US senators \u2013 Democrat Ron Wyden, who chairs the finance committee, and Chris Murphy of Connecticut \u2013 last week called for a \u201cthorough vetting\u201d of the Twitter deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement, Wyden said: \u201cGiven the Saudi regime\u2019s history of jailing critics,\u00a0planting a spy at Twitter, and\u00a0brutally murdering a Washington Post journalist, the Saudi regime must be blocked from accessing Twitter account information, direct messages and other data that could be used to identify political opponents or to suppress criticism of the royal family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve long argued that the United States has a national security interest in protecting Americans\u2019 data from murderous foreign governments, and this Saudi regime absolutely fits that description.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House said last month that reports the US was discussing launching a national security review of some of Musk\u2019s ventures, including Twitter, were \u201cnot true\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Musk\u2019s purchase of Twitter has sparked concerns that he could face pressure from countries trying to control freedom of speech online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world\u2019s richest man, Musk is CEO of electric carmaker Tesla which counts China as a key market and production base. Tesla operates a\u00a0factory in Shanghai\u00a0that accounted for about half of Tesla\u2019s global deliveries last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Musk is also CEO of rocket and satellite internet company SpaceX, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Musk previously suggested that tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by\u00a0handing over some control of Taiwan to Beijing. Musk also said China has sought assurances that he would not offer SpaceX\u2019s Starlink internet service there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also proposed Ukraine permanently cede Crimea to Russia, while saying SpaceX<\/p>\n\n\n\n