French PM Bayrou criticizes Musk's influence on democracies

28/1/2025 6:05

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.