Public statements from Thierry Breton or credible news outlets

Elon Musk Calls Thierry Breton 'Tyrant of Europe' Over EU Digital Regulation and AfD Support

Jan 11, 2025, 03:33 PM

Elon Musk, the owner of X and a close ally of the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, has escalated his online feud with Thierry Breton, the former European Commissioner for the Digital Economy. Musk labeled Breton a 'tyrant of Europe' in response to the latter's comments on enforcing European laws to prevent circumvention, particularly in light of Musk's support for Germany's far-right AfD party. The dispute intensified after Breton suggested that the EU might take action similar to what was done in Romania if necessary in Germany. Musk's criticism of European digital regulations, accusing Brussels of censorship, has been echoed by Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In response to Musk's accusations, Breton clarified that the EU has no mechanism to nullify elections within its borders. The European Commission has initiated formal proceedings against X for alleged violations, which could result in fines up to 6% of Musk's global annual revenue if not addressed. Additionally, the Commission is investigating TikTok for potential Russian manipulation in Romania's annulled presidential election.