France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, accuses Elon Musk—who owns the social media platform X—of “online harassment” of European leaders. Barrot also warns that online activity linked to interference efforts could pose risks ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election.
Barrot frames the allegation as part of a broader concern about disruption to democratic processes. He says that ahead of the April-May election cycle, “enemies of democracy” may try to destabilise France by exploiting social and political divisions, including debates around immigration and secularism, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Across the outlets, the core points remain consistent: the French government’s accusation targets Musk’s online behavior, and it is tied to warnings about potential interference in French elections and the wider political landscape in Europe. The reports do not cite Musk responding to the claims or provide specific examples of the alleged harassment.
