French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has accused X owner Elon Musk of using the platform to organize “massive online harassment campaigns” against European leaders. The remarks were made on October 13, 2026, at a conference of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris.
Barrot linked the accusation to a broader warning about foreign attempts to destabilize France ahead of the presidential election in April–May 2027. According to him, “the forces seeking to undermine democracy now dominate the information landscape” and employ tactics designed to polarize public debate. He noted that “political movements with authoritarian aims” are gaining ground in Europe and North America, seeking “to seize power and then create the conditions to never relinquish it.”
The minister stressed that “the enemies of democracy are doing everything they can to destabilize us.” In his words, they exploit internal divisions and use issues such as immigration, secularism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to stoke hatred and tension. As examples, he mentioned an unnamed Israeli company that, according to Barrot, created fake French accounts to influence perceptions of the Gaza conflict, as well as actions by Azerbaijan that, in his view, fueled tensions during the unrest in New Caledonia.
Barrot singled out Musk — the world’s richest person and the owner of X:
“There are massive online harassment campaigns launched by Elon Musk against European leaders in order to influence debates by exploiting the virality of his social media platform.”
The context of the statement is linked to recent protests by high-school and university students in France, who demanded better conditions in educational institutions. Barrot said coverage of these events was accompanied by “hostile narratives” from Russia, China, Iran, and the MAGA community (supporters of Donald Trump). Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump and Musk commented on the protests, framing them through the lens of mass migration. Musk wrote to his more than 241 million followers on X: “It’s an invasion in slow motion, but an invasion, nonetheless. And those who support the invasion are traitors who deserve the fate of all traitors.”
Barrot emphasized that France will not tolerate foreign interference: “We do not tolerate any foreign interference, from wherever it may come. It is a matter of sovereignty.” He said the government is working to counter situations in which paid or commissioned influencers exploit the viral potential of digital platforms.
