France has publicly accused billionaire Elon Musk of driving coordinated online attacks against European leaders, warning that such activity could open the door to foreign interference in domestic politics.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Musk, through his social media platform X, is allegedly amplifying and promoting defamatory online campaigns aimed at European leaders. Barrot claimed the effort is intended to stir confusion and influence internal political debates across Europe.
He pointed to Musk’s posts supporting Germany’s AfD and his frequent, strongly worded commentary on issues related to the United Kingdom as examples of what France views as a pattern of political intervention.
With France’s presidential election scheduled for April–May 2027, Barrot warned that sensitive topics such as secularism and the Israel–Palestine conflict could be used to inflame hatred and manipulate public opinion.
Barrot also said online propaganda has recently circulated around protests involving school students in France, alleging that narratives have been pushed from Russia, China, Iran and supporters of former US President Donald Trump. He stressed that France would not tolerate interference from any foreign actor, calling it a matter of national sovereignty.
