Elon Musk provokes China with AI video mocking Xi Jinping

Elon Musk tweeted a parody video of an AI fashion show that featured him, Bill Gates, and other prominent figures. 

The video includes a brief yet controversial appearance of Xi Jinping dressed in a robe adorned with a cartoon bear suspiciously resembling Winnie the Pooh. 

Xi’s appearance, lasting only two seconds, poses a risky move given Tesla's operations in China. 

Tesla’s sales in the country have recently slumped, and its future availability remains dependent on government approval.

Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, shared the video on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

The video, set to Enya’s “Only Time,” features world leaders walking a fashion runway in humorous attire reflecting their histories or recent news. 

For instance, former President Bill Clinton appears in a blue tulle dress, referencing the infamous blue garment of Monica Lewinsky. 

However, the depiction of Xi Jinping in a robe with Winnie the Pooh-like characters and the acronym “CCP” (Chinese Communist Party) is particularly provocative. 

In China, dissidents have long used the beloved character to mock Jinping, a comparison so taboo that a horror movie featuring Winnie the Pooh was pulled from theaters in Hong Kong and Macau last year, likely due to Chinese censorship.

The video was tweeted by Musk on Sunday, leaving little time to gauge China’s reaction. 

Tesla critic Brad Munchen highlighted the potential financial implications for Tesla. 

“Winnie the Pooh memes are banned in China because they're an insult to Xi Jinping who some say looks like Pooh,” he tweeted. 

“China is where $TSLA built its most profitable factory, which generated 70% of global profits in 2023. One must be on drugs to tweet something this reckless.”

Tesla’s Shanghai factory, which has surpassed the Fremont, California facility as the company’s largest and most productive, is crucial to Tesla's profitability, according to The New York Times. 

Musk’s provocative behavior raises questions about who, if anyone, can temper his actions and their potential impact on Tesla’s business interests.