Jonathan Kearsley: US Correspondent on Musk’s absence from Trump’s tech meeting

US President Donald Trump hosted a tech get-together with some of the biggest names in modern technology.  

The CEOs of ChatGPT, Google Facebook and Microsoft were all present at the high-profile dinner hosted by the President. 

Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley told Heather duPlessis-Allan that Trump’s former right-hand-man and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk was invited but did not attend.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
International correspondence with ends and eye Insurance, peace of mind
for New Zealand business so two away from.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Five and Jonathan kurksy our Ubas correspondence with that's hello, Jonathan.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
They're always good to talk to you. In the listeners.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
So did Elon Musk not turn up to the big meeting?

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Invited but did not attend? Yes, the man who was
in charge of DOGE was invited to the tech get
together if you like. And the new look Rose Garden
which is effectively now a concrete garden if you like.
That mimics more Mari Lago's background than the rose Garden
of prior. But it was a tech meeting full of
the likes of Sam Altman from chapt It was full

(00:37):
of the likes of Mark Zuckerberg. The Google CEO was there,
the Microsoft CEO was there. Bill Gates was there but
very notable absentee. And Elon Musk himself, the man who
was Donald Trump's right hand man is right hand no longer.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah too, Right now, listen this business with the Venezuelan
fighter yets. I mean, this is this is a provocation,
is it?

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Well? This is this is actually really serious and it's
getting into a very serious situation. Earlier this week, we
saw the Department of Homeland Security essentially say it was
in the US interests to fire on what they said
was a drug cartel boat. They killed eleven people they
said were gang members. It had supposedly come from Venezuela.
The Trump administration released footage of that strike on that
drug cartel boat, and they said the US President will

(01:20):
continue to track down that. In fact, Donald Trump is
pretty forceful himself on it. But today we've heard from
the US Department of Defense that says, just a matter
of hours ago to Venezuelan military aircraft flew near a
US Navy vessel that, yes, was in international waters. But
this is clearly a message that is being sent by
Venezuela to the US administration essentially trying to say, you know,

(01:41):
back off from our territory a little bit. So you've
got somewhat of a standoff here, But the next move
from the US administration is going to be very very interesting. Indeed,
the Department of Defense essentially is saying that it strongly
advised Venezuela not to pursue any further effort to obstructor
to or interfere with what they say count and narcotic
and canter terror operations carried out by the US military. So, yes,

(02:04):
a standoff between the United States and Venezuela. Somewhat of
an acceleration by Venezuela in this not exactly conflict, but yes,
a standoff that is going to be raising concern over
the coming days.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Now, can you explain to me why the US wants
to stop the Iranians from buying things at Costco?

Speaker 1 (02:23):
Ah? Yes, welcome to the World of United Nations High
Level Week, where not only has the US decided that
the Palestinian leader Makworta bas is not welcome, but yes,
they are going to be restricting the movements of a
number of delegates will be making their way into the
United States for the UN week that is seen around
the world. And yes, the Iranians have been told that

(02:44):
they will not be able to go to shopping centers,
including mass outlets like Costco. So there'll be no giant
purchases of humus or olives or anything of the like
that you may be able to get at Costco. Maybe
they could get some barbecue wings. I mean, I don't
know how there are Maybe the United Nations would work
better if they all had a multicultural cookoff and decided

(03:05):
to ease the tensions with a multicultural food festival in
New York City.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
Why why stop as the point, why stop them from
going to costco.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Well, because essentially they're trying to restrict their movements.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
Stopping them from it's restricting their movements to trying to
keep them in the heart of New York City itself,
basically saying they can't go out, they can't move around freely.
They're here essentially for one purpose and one purpose only,
and that is to attend the United Nations.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
They're not here to act as tourists. They're not here
to gather for catering functions. They're not here to you know,
live up the American lifestyle if you like. They are
here for official business. And that is the United Nations
High Level Week. It is a week that is taken
very seriously. It'll be held at the end of September,
from about the twenty second to the end of that week.
Donald Trump will speak on the Tuesday of that week,

(03:54):
it is expected and you will hear from a number
of world leaders. You can imagine Russia, Ukraine will be
a focus Willy's role, and Gars have given them so
many nations, including one just across the sea from you
in Australia declared that yes, they will be formally identifying
Palestine as a as a nation. And this has been

(04:15):
a move by a number of Western countries, so it
is taken very very seriously. As I said, the United
States already barring Palestinian officials from turning up and now
they're looking to bar Iranians from going shopping.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
Thank you very much, Jonathan, appreciate it. Enjoy your weekend.
Jonathan Keursley, US correspondent eighteen Away from five. For more
from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news talks.

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