Key facts
- Elon Musk expressed support for French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen on X.
- Musk called Le Pen "France's last hope" in a post on X.
- Le Pen is the leader of the National Rally party and a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
- Musk's endorsement has led to accusations of foreign interference from French officials.
- French authorities are investigating X's Grok AI chatbot for potentially spreading misinformation.
- Musk has previously supported right-wing and far-right politicians in Europe.
Elon Musk, owner of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, has publicly endorsed Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally party, calling her "France's last hope" ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Musk made the statement on his social media platform X, referencing Le Pen's favorable polling figures.
Le Pen is currently running for president. Musk's endorsement has drawn sharp criticism from French officials, who have accused him of foreign interference. Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot responded to Musk's post, stating, "The season of interference is beginning." Former European Commissioner Thierry Breton echoed these concerns, emphasizing that "the rule of law applies to everyone." Renew Europe MEP Nathalie Loiseau condemned Musk's support, linking him to "extremist parties all over Europe."
French authorities are also investigating X's Grok AI chatbot for allegedly spreading sexually explicit content and misinformation. Musk has a history of engaging with and supporting right-wing and far-right politicians across Europe, including past endorsements of the German party Alternative for Germany (AfD) and interactions with figures like Nigel Farage. He previously supported Le Pen when she faced a sentence of ineligibility for misuse of public funds, a ruling that was later overturned on appeal, allowing her to remain eligible to run for president.