Le Pen's Party Rejects Musk Backing Amid French Regulatory Pressure
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally publicly rejected Elon Musk’s endorsement, underscoring the heightened regulatory and political risks facing X in France.
National Rally, France’s far-right party, explicitly distanced itself from Elon Musk after the billionaire dubbed its leader, Marine Le Pen, "France’s last hope" ahead of next year’s presidential election. Spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli told public radio that the party does not seek international support, stating that only "it’s the opinion of the French people" that matters.
Musk’s intervention drew swift condemnation from across the French political spectrum. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Musk to reconsider his position. Far-left parliamentarian Antoine Léaument labeled the post "foreign interference" and called on regulators to prevent the election from being "manipulated" on social media.
For investors, the backlash highlights the deepening regulatory peril for X in one of its largest European markets. Former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who previously served as France's economy minister, warned that Musk’s ownership of X could cause its algorithm to "favor" Le Pen, calling the post "meddling." France is already investigating X over algorithmic transparency, moderation practices, personal data handling, and the spread of harmful content—probes that Musk has characterized as politically motivated.
French President Emmanuel Macron has joined other European leaders in openly criticizing Musk for attempting to influence regional political conversations. Musk, currently worth an estimated $855.6 billion, has a history of endorsing far-right factions, including Germany’s Alternative for Germany party and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party. Those endorsements drew rebukes from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former chancellor Olaf Scholz, who called Musk's involvement "completely unacceptable."
Despite retaining some support among free-market and tech voters in France, the broader political discourse has turned sharply against the billionaire. National Rally’s swift rejection of his support demonstrates just how politically toxic his alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump has become in the country. For X, this dynamic ensures French regulators will maintain aggressive scrutiny of the platform, keeping its European operations under sustained legal and financial pressure.
