Officials in Germany, France, Norway, and the U.K. have all publicly voiced concerns about Musk’s actions on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), including his endorsement of right-wing parties and perceived interference in internal politics.
UK parties unite against Musk
In Britain, the Labour Party, governing Conservatives, and Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform Party urged President-elect Donald Trump to reconsider his ties with Musk, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday. Tensions flared over the weekend when Musk criticized Farage’s leadership and called for him to step aside, following Farage’s refusal to admit far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (a.k.a. Tommy Robinson) into Reform.
Criticism from Norway and France
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told public broadcaster NRK he was troubled by “a man with enormous access to social media and huge economic resources” influencing the politics of other nations. Støre added he hoped Norwegian politicians would “warn against, and distance themselves from, such efforts” if they targeted Norway.
French President Emmanuel Macron stopped short of naming Musk directly but criticized “the owner of one of the world’s largest social networks” for backing “a new international reactionary movement” and “intervening directly in elections,” including in Germany.
German concerns, upcoming livestream
In Germany, government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said Musk’s influence was “limited,” adding that sensible people were “in a big majority” and unlikely to be swayed by social media. Berlin recently accused Musk of interfering in the country’s snap election, scheduled for Feb. 23, by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and criticizing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Musk plans a livestream on Thursday with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. The European Commission signaled on Monday that this event could trigger legal scrutiny under the EU’s Digital Services Act if it “unfairly boosts” Weidel ahead of the vote. The Commission said it will monitor the broadcast to determine whether it poses “risks on civic discourse and electoral processes.”
Broader EU reaction
Some European lawmakers have called on Brussels to use “the full force” of its new digital legislation to address Musk’s perceived intervention. French President Macron underscored that these moves—particularly Musk’s vocal support for the AfD—represent “direct” involvement in European elections.
Musk, who also leads Tesla and SpaceX, has not responded in detail to the latest criticism but continues to defend his platform’s role in free speech. Meanwhile, officials across multiple EU countries say they remain vigilant against potential foreign influence in their democratic processes.
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Source: PAP, Politico, TVP World