12:01 PM PT -- It seems Elon can walk and chew gum at the same time -- while he was declaring he'd save the world if push came to shove with Russia ... he was also chowing down with locals in Texas.

Check out these photos we got of EM at the Sombrero Festival in Brownsville Saturday, where Papa Bear showed up with his young son, X, whom he was holding.

We're told he was in town giving a speech about SpaceX, and after someone invited him to the festivities ... he decided to take 'em up on the offer.

Looks like he was given some fresh barbecue too while he was at it ... Elon was photographed wolfing down some sort of kebob thing, with a spiral potato on the stick. That's good eating for a potential Earth savior ... keep the guy well-fed, Texas!

Elon Musk has vowed to become a real-life action hero, saving the world -- or at least part of it -- by thwarting any attempt by the Russian Government to send the International Space Station hurtling toward earth.

Musk is reacting to a Russian space official who menacingly suggested the ISS could lose its trajectory and careen toward the U.S. or Europe if the Russians sabotage the craft. The official suggested sanctions could trigger the move. Russia controls the engines on the ISS, and it can direct the trajectory accordingly.

Musk's Twitter response ... a SpaceX logo.

Someone on Twitter inquired if E.M. was suggesting SpaceX would prevent the ISS from plummeting to earth. His response -- "Yes."

Musk acknowledged another tweet with the ISS, but one thing was missing -- any evidence of Russia. Instead, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was front and center.  Elon responded, "Good thread."

The ISS could do lots of damage for sure ... it weighs in at 500 tons.

As for how serious the threat, the Russian official said, "The ISS does not fly over Russia, therefore all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?"

NASA says nothing's changing with respect to ISS operations. What's unclear ... can Russia do what it's threatening?

Don't count Musk out ... NASA has increasingly relied on SpaceX for space exploration.

Originally Published -- 6:43 AM PT

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