French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused American billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, of conducting “massive harassment campaigns” on the platform aimed at influencing national debates.
During a conference addressing risks of interference in the upcoming 2027 presidential elections, Barrot criticized Musk’s online activities, asserting they are designed to sway discussions by exploiting the viral nature of his social media.
In the wake of protests organized by students in France over school conditions, which in some instances escalated into violence, former President Donald Trump commented last week on Truth Social that the events in France amounted to “nothing less than an out-of-control mass migration.”
Musk responded to the situation, stating, “It is a slow invasion, but still an invasion. And those who support the invasion are traitors who deserve the fate of all traitors,” via a post on X.
Barrot further claimed that some online reports regarding the student protests were marked by “hostile narratives originating from Russia, China, Iran, and the MAGA community,” referring to supporters of Donald Trump.
“We do not tolerate any foreign interference, regardless of its origin. It is a matter of sovereignty,” Barrot asserted during a conference of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) based in Paris.
Foreign Minister’s Warning Ahead of French Presidential Elections
Looking ahead to the presidential elections scheduled for April-May 2027, where far-right politician Marine Le Pen is a leading candidate in polls, Barrot stated on Tuesday that “enemies of democracy will do everything to destabilize us.”
“They exploit our divisions and leverage issues like immigration, secularism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to fuel hatred and tensions,” he added.
Barrot specifically mentioned an unnamed Israeli company that allegedly created fake accounts posing as French users to post content related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
