Key facts
- Elon Musk called for French presidential candidate Marine Tondelier to be "shut down for treason against France."
- Tondelier had proposed that French authorities should be able to suspend platforms during electoral campaigns to counter foreign interference.
- Tondelier responded to Musk, stating that democracy is not for sale and France does not need lessons from foreign billionaires.
- Musk has previously expressed support for far-right candidates in European politics, including Marine Le Pen.
- French officials are intensifying efforts to detect and penalize foreign interference in the upcoming 2027 election.
Elon Musk, owner of X, publicly attacked French presidential candidate Marine Tondelier, demanding she be "shut down for treason against France." This statement followed Tondelier's suggestion that French authorities should have the power to suspend online platforms during electoral campaigns to prevent foreign interference.
Tondelier swiftly responded to Musk's comment, asserting that "France does not need lessons in patriotism from a foreign billionaire who thinks he gets to decide which European political leaders should be silenced." She added, "Democracy is not for sale. Not even to the richest man in the world."
Musk, who has previously advised U.S. President Donald Trump and expressed support for far-right candidates in Europe, including Marine Le Pen, has frequently commented on European political matters. Le Pen's National Rally party, however, has previously sought to distance itself from Musk's endorsements.
Hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon also criticized Musk's remarks and accused the French government of insufficient action against foreign interference. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot rejected Mélenchon's criticism.
Earlier in the week, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that the government is enhancing measures to detect and prosecute foreign interference in the upcoming 2027 election. Presidential candidates Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe, along with potential candidate Raphaël Glucksmann, have reported being targets of Russian disinformation campaigns.