Republican presidential candidate slams Elon Musk for saying the US and China's interests are 'intertwined like conjoined twins'

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on March 03, 2023.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

• Vivek Ramaswamy has called some of Musk's comments to Chinese officials "deeply concerning."
• According to Chinese officials, Musk said he's opposed to the two nations weakening economic ties.
• The Tesla CEO is in China for his first visit in three years.

Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called some of Elon Musk's comments to Chinese officials "deeply concerning."

In a video shared on Twitter, the lawmaker said he'd been a vocal advocate of Musk's work at Twitter but felt he had to criticize some of the billionaire's reported statements about China and the US.

According to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, Musk told officials he's opposed to the two countries weakening their economic ties. He described the US and China's interests as "intertwined like conjoined twins," according to the ministry's statement.

Ramaswamy accused Musk of "kowtowing" to the Chinese Communist Party with the comments, "presumably as a basis for gaining favorable market treatment there."

Ramaswamy said Tesla's VP reposted the Chinese official statement on Weibo. Insider could not independently verify that the statement was reshared.

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours.

Musk has been welcomed with open arms during his first visit to China in three years. The billionaire has reportedly been referred to as "Brother Ma" since arriving via private jet on Tuesday, per Reuters. The news outlet also reported that Musk also shared a 16-course meal with one of China's top battery executives, Zeng Yuqun, at the Man Fu Yan restaurant.

The Tesla CEO's visit to the country comes at a time when US-China relations appear strained. Ray Dalio said last month the two countries were on the brink of war, Insider's Matthew Loh reported.

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