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Elon Musk Backs Marine Le Pen in French Presidential Race

Elon Musk has made headlines by endorsing Marine Le Pen as she prepares for the upcoming French presidential election. His statement on X, where he referred to her as "France's last hope," coincides with her strong polling numbers. This endorsement marks a notable shift from Musk's previous reluctance to engage in French politics, especially considering his past interactions with President Emmanuel Macron. Additionally, Musk's relationship with France is complicated by ongoing legal issues surrounding his AI chatbot, Grok. As the election approaches, Musk's support could significantly impact Le Pen's campaign.
 

Musk's Support for Le Pen

Elon Musk has publicly endorsed Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-right, as she prepares for the upcoming presidential election next year. In a post on X, the platform he owns, Musk referred to Le Pen as "France's last hope," a remark that coincides with her favorable polling ahead of the election.


Musk's Political Engagement in Europe

Musk's Political Engagement in Europe

This isn't Musk's first foray into European politics. He has a history of supporting right-wing and far-right candidates across the continent. For instance, in May, he praised Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain as the only party capable of rescuing the nation and has frequently shared content from British activist Tommy Robinson. However, Musk had previously refrained from endorsing any specific candidate in France until now.


Contrast with Macron

Contrast with Macron

Musk's shift in support is notable, especially considering his past interactions with French President Emmanuel Macron. After their meeting in 2022, Musk expressed his honor in speaking with Macron and later endorsed Macron's controversial decision to raise the minimum retirement age in France, a move that Le Pen has promised to overturn if she wins.


Legal Issues in France

Legal Issues in France

In addition to political matters, Musk's ties to France are complicated by legal issues. French authorities are investigating Grok, the AI chatbot developed by X, for its involvement in disseminating explicit deepfakes and antisemitic content. This inquiry resulted in a police raid on X's Paris office in February. Musk was summoned for questioning by French prosecutors in April but did not attend the scheduled interview.