Viral Selfie of Elon Musk and Xiaomi's Lei Jun Sparks Online Debate in China
A brief and awkward interaction between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Xiaomi co-founder Lei Jun at a state banquet in Beijing has gone viral on Chinese social media. The incident occurred during a high-profile summit involving US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Footage shows Lei Jun approaching Musk for a selfie; Musk initially grimaced and looked indifferent before forcing a smile and turning to his phone. The clip garnered 75 million views on Weibo, sparking intense debate among users. Some critics labeled Lei Jun as sycophantic, comparing his actions to social climbing, while defenders argued that such interactions are routine for the executive. The viral moment underscores the fierce competition in China's electric vehicle market, where Xiaomi's SU7 recently surpassed Tesla's Model Y in sales. The story highlights the intersection of international diplomacy, tech rivalry, and social media culture, with Musk himself reposting the video on X. AI-generated images mocking the encounter further fueled the online discourse, reflecting the complex public perception of both business leaders in China.
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Viral Selfie of Elon Musk and Xiaomi's Lei Jun Sparks Online Debate in China
A brief and awkward interaction between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Xiaomi co-founder Lei Jun at a state banquet in Beijing has gone viral on Chinese social media. The incident occurred during a high-profile summit involving US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Footage shows Lei Jun approaching Musk for a selfie; Musk initially grimaced and looked indifferent before forcing a smile and turning to his phone. The clip garnered 75 million views on Weibo, sparking intense debate among users. Some critics labeled Lei Jun as sycophantic, comparing his actions to social climbing, while defenders argued that such interactions are routine for the executive. The viral moment underscores the fierce competition in China's electric vehicle market, where Xiaomi's SU7 recently surpassed Tesla's Model Y in sales. The story highlights the intersection of international diplomacy, tech rivalry, and social media culture, with Musk himself reposting the video on X. AI-generated images mocking the encounter further fueled the online discourse, reflecting the complex public perception of both business leaders in China.