Macron accuses Musk of interfering in EU elections and supporting “reactionary movement”
7 January 2025 11:25
French President Emmanuel Macron has accused American billionaire and owner of the X social network Elon Musk of interfering in European politics and supporting a “reactionary movement” around the world. Macron did not name Musk, but, according to Politico, his speech made it clear that he was referring to him, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and directly intervene in elections, including in Germany,” Macron said during his speech at the Elysee Palace.
The publication recalled that Macron and Musk have developed a rather warm relationship. The billionaire joined US President-elect Donald Trump at the opening of Notre Dame Cathedral in December 2024, and last week donated 100 Starlink terminals to the French territory of Mayotte, which was affected by the cyclone.
In addition, Macron invited Musk and Trump to Paris for an artificial intelligence summit to be held in February. The French president has also repeatedly said that he wants to cooperate with the new US administration.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Monday that he found it “disturbing” that Musk, “a man with enormous access to social media,” would be so “directly involved” in the politics of other nations.
Earlier, the German government reacted to a column by American billionaire Elon Musk in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, in which he expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. It was called an attempt to influence the federal elections in Germany. German government deputy spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said that the column was an attempt to influence the results of the federal elections in Germany scheduled for February 23, 2025.
