This Monday, January 6, the French president Emmanuel Macron Macron criticized Elon Musk, the owner of the social network X, for his support of nationalist movements in Europe, particularly the German party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Without naming him directly, Macron accused Musk of supporting a "new reactionary international" and interfering in European electoral processes.
Macron expressed surprise at Musk's growing influence on European politics, saying that no one could have imagined a decade ago that a social media mogul could have such an impact on elections, including in Germany. The statement comes as Musk's support for the AfD has drawn fierce criticism across Europe.
At the same time, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Starmer also denounced Musk for spreading "lies and misinformation" via his social network, following a series of controversial posts about a sexual exploitation case in the UK. Starmer accused Musk of being more interested in his own agenda than the victims of these acts.
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also responded to Musk's comments, calling his remarks "erratic statements" and calling for calm in the face of the billionaire's interference in German politics. This intervention comes just weeks before the snap parliamentary elections in Germany.
In this tense context, Emmanuel Macron was keen to recall the strong ties between France and the United States, while sending a message to the president-elect. Donald TrumpHe stressed the importance for France to maintain a strong position to ensure mutual respect between the two nations.
