Musk Targets French Greens' Presidential Candidate

Elon Musk sharply criticized French presidential candidate and Green Party leader Marine Tondelier after she suggested the possibility of temporarily suspending the X network during election campaigns in the event of foreign interference, according to Politico.

Musk responded by accusing her of treason and writing on X that he wanted her "shut down for treason against France". Tondelier replied that France did not need lessons in patriotism from a foreign billionaire, adding that "democracy is not for sale". The dispute comes at a sensitive time ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Musk has repeatedly weighed in on European politics, and in July he called Marine Le Pen "France's last hope".

Former Member of the European Parliament Jean-Luc Mélenchon also weighed in on the conflict, criticizing both Musk and the French government. At the same time, Paris is strengthening measures against foreign interference in elections, with several French politicians claiming they have been targeted by Russian disinformation campaigns.

(mja)