‘Elon Musk a threat to democracies,’ France PM Bayrou rebukes Tesla chief

Bayrou's comments on Musk come a week after he warned that France and Europe would have to stand up to Trump and his policies, or risk being 'dominated...crushed...marginalised.'

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 15, 2025 | Reuters file photo

Paris: Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media network X and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, poses a threat to democracies, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Monday.

“Elon Musk is creating a threat to democracies,” Bayrou said in a local TV interview. “Money should not give the right to rule consciences.”

Bayrou’s comments about Musk come after he warned last week that France and Europe as a whole would have to stand up to Trump and his policies, or risk being “dominated … crushed … marginalised.”

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the world’s richest person, has shown a willingness to weigh in on foreign political issues. He has endorsed a German anti-immigration party ahead of elections slated in February, and has repeatedly commented on British politics, demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer resign.

(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)

Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.