Elon Musk Backs Marine Le Pen in French Presidential Race
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.
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This endorsement comes shortly after Le Pen officially kicked off her fourth presidential campaign last week, following a court ruling that allowed her to run despite a previous conviction for misappropriating funds related to the European Parliament. Le Pen has consistently claimed her innocence and is appealing the ruling.
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.