Elon Musk's Political Influence: How His X Account Shapes European Politics
Musk's Political Power on X
Rome: Although Elon Musk's political standing in Washington, DC, has diminished, he is now attempting to establish a new political party while maintaining significant influence on X, where he holds the most followed account.
Acquired for $44 billion in 2022, Musk's platform has allowed him to support far-right politicians and activists across Europe. An analysis by the Associated Press indicates that a single retweet or response from Musk can generate millions of views and thousands of new followers.
This influence has not gone unnoticed, as many influencers continuously tag Musk in hopes of gaining his attention, raising concerns in Europe about potential foreign interference from the U.S.
Christel Schaldemose, a European Parliament vice president focused on electoral integrity, emphasized the need for vigilance regarding this issue.
The Associated Press reviewed over 20,000 posts compiled by Bright Data over three years, focusing on 11 European figures who frequently engage with Musk and promote far-right agendas.
These examples illustrate how Musk's interactions can significantly impact local influencers who align with his views.
Since Musk's acquisition of Twitter in October 2022, his follower count has surged to over 220 million, marking an unprecedented growth rate among major accounts.
This increased visibility has global ramifications, as the accounts Musk promotes are part of a rising coalition of nationalistic figures advocating for strict immigration policies and a radical interpretation of free speech, challenging the longstanding trans-Atlantic relationship between the U.S. and Europe.
Some of the accounts analyzed by the AP belong to individuals facing serious legal issues in their respective countries. For instance, Tommy Robinson, a UK anti-immigrant activist, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for breaching a court order related to defamatory claims against a Syrian refugee.
Bjoern Hoecke, a member of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was convicted for using Nazi slogans in public speeches.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was acquitted of charges related to the illegal detention of migrants aboard a rescue ship.
Other notable figures include Alice Weidel, who led the AfD to significant electoral success this year; Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a Dutch far-right influencer; and Naomi Seibt, a German activist living in political exile in Washington, D.C.
These accounts collectively gained around 5 million followers since Musk's takeover of Twitter, with many experiencing follower increases of over 100%, some even exceeding 900%.
Interactions from Musk have proven transformative, as evidenced by the substantial spikes in views and engagement on posts he interacts with.
Musk's influence incentivizes individuals to seek his engagement, as seen with Naomi Seibt, who tagged Musk nearly 600 times before he finally responded in June 2024, leading to a significant increase in her followers and post visibility.
Alice Weidel's audience grew from 230,000 to 2.2 million on days Musk interacted with her content, and after a livestream with Musk, she gained further political traction.
Musk has also supported Matteo Salvini, whose posts received four times the usual views when Musk engaged with them.
Fidias Panayiotou, a young influencer from Cyprus, even managed to secure a viral moment with Musk, which he credits for his political success in the European Parliament, where he has advocated for Musk's interests.
Musk's endorsement of Panayiotou highlights the significant impact of his online presence on real-world political dynamics.