Independent: Musk tried to block massive Trump-backed Mideast AI deal unless he was included: report

Elon Musk rushed to the Mideast to hold up a massive Trump-endorsed American AI operation in Abu Dhabi unless it included him, according to a new report

Retiring DOGE hatchet man Elon Musk rushed to the Middle East during Donald Trump’s visit there earlier this month to block a massive American AI partnership with the United Arab Emirates backed by the president – unless it included him, according to a new report. That apparently explains the tech billionaire’s sudden appearance at a Trump meeting with Saudi Arabia officials during the president’s three-country Middle East tour.

Trump’s team scrambled to soothe an irritated Musk so the president could announce the deal while he was in the Middle East, the Journal reported.

It wasn’t immediately clear if some kind of accommodation was worked out for the tech boss who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the campaigns of Trump and other Republicans, or if he is now part of the deal. He could not immediately be reached for comment. His company has not been named as a participant in the business by any announcement of the deal.

Poor F’Elon!

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/musk-trump-middle-east-ai-deal-b2759700.html

OBOXMA: It seems Zuckerberg now wants US military contracts

While Meta is mired in antitrust proceedings threatening to lead to its dismantling, Mark Zuckerberg is desperately tightening his ties with the Trump administration, which he has been trying to seduce for several months in the hope of securing highly lucrative military contracts.

Mark Zuckerberg has made one strategic rapprochement gesture after another towards Donald Trump, combining financial initiatives, internal decisions and political signals: a million-dollar donation at his inauguration in January, a meeting at Mar-a-Lago, the dismantling of Facebook’s fact-checking program, the removal of Meta’s diversity team, the appointment of people close to Trump to the board of directors, and the purchase of a house in Washington D.C.

Move over, F’Elon and Jeff! Mark Zuckerberg — the guy who stole Facebook from his Harvard schoolmate — wants a piece of your pie.

Mirror: Trump sparks outrage with AI image of himself as Pope weeks after Francis’ death

In a move that has sparked an online outrage, President Donald Trump posted an AI-rendered image of himself dressed as the Pope on social media, coming less than a week after he attended Pope Francis’s funeral.

Followers expressed their anger over the image, which Trump shared on Truth Social and Instagram. The picture was also shared by the official White House account on X. Some labeled the post as downright disrespectful.

Presumptuous *ssh*l*!!!

https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/trump-sparks-outrage-ai-image-1129157

More here:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-posts-image-of-himself-as-pope-on-truth-social-critics-erupt/ar-AA1E5CjY

And here, some drivel from J.D. Dunce:

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/03/vance-ai-pope-trump-00325197

No, J.D. Dunce, this is just wrong, wrong, wrong! Mocking such a beloved person who just passed away is as tasteless and classless as you can.