President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
As part of the program Regional Initiative for combating disinformation “Western Balkans Combatting disinformation Center: Exposing malicious influences through fact-checking and Analytical Journalism“, we present you a new analysis of fake news and disinformation narratives.
Elon Musk urges EU countries to leave the Union: Brussels is destroying democracy in Europe
Statements by Elon Musk in which he sharply criticizes the European Union while simultaneously supporting right-wing forces on the continent are attracting increasing attention. His global influence as an entrepreneur and owner of X means that such messages do not remain at the level of personal opinion but become part of a broader political discourse. For this reason, his positions require a critical approach and an understanding of the wider context.
Musk has repeatedly expressed sympathy for far-right parties in Europe, notably his support for Germany’s AfD and its leader Alice Weidel. AfD is known for its Eurosceptic and anti-immigration rhetoric, as well as for relativizing Germany’s historical responsibilities. When Musk, a figure whose voice reaches millions worldwide, aligns himself with such political options, it represents more than a simple comment. His words legitimize positions that undermine trust in European integration and erode liberal-democratic values.
It is also problematic that Musk’s political statements cannot be separated from his business interests. In recent years, the European Union has imposed increasingly strict regulations on digital platforms, particularly requiring the removal of hate speech and disinformation. As the owner of X, Musk openly criticizes these rules, portraying them as an attempt at censorship. In this context, his alignment with the European far-right appears logical: it represents a political alliance with those who also attack the EU for “excessive bureaucracy” and “suppressing freedom.” His claimed idealism about democracy is intertwined with a very concrete desire to avoid regulations that directly affect the business model of his platform.
The way Musk understands freedom of speech adds further concern. He insists on an absolute form of it, where almost any type of content should remain online, even when it involves false information or extremist messages. Such a vision does not strengthen democracy; instead, it opens the door to manipulation and the spread of hate. When combined with his political sympathies for parties that themselves use populism and disinformation as tools, the line between freedom of expression and abuse becomes extremely thin.
Musk’s statements about Europe’s “demographic decline” or claims that the “EU is destroying democracy” further reinforce narratives that the far-right has been promoting for years. He does not act as a neutral observer concerned about the continent’s future but as a global figure whose authority fuels political divisions and pessimism. At a time when European democracies are under pressure from populist and authoritarian tendencies, his messages can act as a catalyst for instability.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance defended Musk, comparing European reactions to him with American tolerance for Greta Thunberg’s posts. As he stated, “If we could endure a decade of Greta’s posts, we can handle a few months of Musk’s.” In this way, Vance frames the issue as one of free speech. However, this approach overlooks the core problem—Musk’s statements do not merely provoke disagreement; they have real political consequences. The debate is reduced to whether his messages are tolerable rather than examining how they shape public discourse and empower the European far-right.
Musk’s statements and his open closeness to the far-right in Europe cannot be seen as a benign exercise of free speech. They are part of a broader process in which a global tech leader, through his statements, contributes to strengthening political forces that threaten the democratic order while simultaneously defending his own interests under the guise of fighting for freedom of speech.
Author: Nataša Stanojević
