NEW YORK: Tesla boss and billionaire Elon Musk recently heaped praise on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly – a photo of which has now gone viral on the internet, sparking intense speculations about whether the two are dating each other.

Both Musk and Meloni were spotted during a black-tie awards reception where the pair put on an enamoured display. During the event, the X boss, a strong Donald Trump supporter, introduced the far-right Italian politician at the Atlantic Council’s Global Citizen Awards dinner at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York Monday night.

‘Meloni Even More Beautiful On The Inside…’: Musk

Speaking on the occasion, the Tesla billionaire gushed, “Meloni is even more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside,” according to Politico.

Musk, while bestowing the Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award on Meloni, said that it indeed an honour to present the accolade to “someone who is even more beautiful on the inside than she was on the outside.”

‘Authentic, Honest, Truthful’: Musk Hails Meloni

“Giorgia Meloni is someone I admire, who has done an incredible job as the Prime Minister of Italy,” he said, adding, “She’s also someone who is authentic, honest, truthful – and that can’t always be said about politicians.”

As Musk presented the award to Meloni, the duo were also spotted staring at each other’s eyes briefly.

Interestingly, when Musk uttered these words in the presence of almost 700 international attendees, the audience burst into a peel of laughter.

The 47-year-old Italian PM had personally requested that Musk introduce her at the Atlantic Council dinner, which has become the social crown jewel of the United Nations General Assembly. Musk was seen nodding while Meloni spoke, and stood up to applaud when she finished.

Grazie Elon pic.twitter.com/NgHchWLUtB

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 24, 2024

The X owner and father of 12 had met The Italian leader at numerous occasions over the last year, including their first meeting at Meloni’s official residence in Rome in June 2023.

Not only this, Musk also attended a political festival hosted by Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party last December.

However, Musk has now tweeted confirming, ”We are not dating.”

We are not dating

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 24, 2024

Musk, who has courted controversy over his 12 kids with three different women, recently welcomed a baby with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis in January.

Last fall, Meloni publicly dumped the father of her daughter, Andrea Giambruno, after he made lewd comments on Italian TV.

The Tesla boss was seen nodding while Meloni spoke, and stood up to applaud when she finished.