President of Venezuela banned Elon Musk’s X platform for 10 days, in an effort to quell widespread concern over the country’s disputed election results, according to media reports.
“X out for 10 days! Elon Musk out!” President Nicolás Maduro is alleged to have said during a speech.
Maduro – who has been in power since 2013 – ordered the nationwide block on Thursday and also accused Musk of using the social network to incite hatred after the last presidential election, media reports show.
Protesters across Venezuela have taken to the streets to contest Maduro’s claims of victory.
Musk accused the authoritarian leader of “massive election fraud,” on X on July 29. By Saturday afternoon, the post had been liked by 552,000 people and reposted by 107,000 people. Musk also dissed Maduro Xsays he’s “not a good guy.”
Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia both took victory after the election on 28 July. Maduro declared himself the winner and electoral authorities endorsed him, but have yet to show receipts. González Urrutia’s camp, for its part, has published lists of numbers from polling stations.
USA joined Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on 3 August rejected the official election results and recognized González Urrutia as the winner.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the majority of votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. claimed.