Full Breakdown
Elon Musk Calls Marine Le Pen “France’s Last Hope” Ahead of 2024 Presidential Vote
7/16/2026, 12:30:35 AM
Musk’s Quasi-Endorsement of the Far-Right Candidate
On a Wednesday post to X, Elon Musk, the owner of the social-media platform, wrote, “She is France’s last hope,” referring to Marine Le Pen, the veteran leader of France’s far-right National Rally. The comment arrived as Le Pen launched her fourth presidential bid after an appeals court cleared her to run despite a conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds, a ruling she continues to contest in higher courts.
Political and Legal Context
Le Pen’s candidacy comes amid a tightly contested 2024 French presidential election, with incumbent President Emmanuel Macron seeking to cement his legacy. Musk has previously engaged in European politics, praising British far-right activist Tommy Robinson and, in May, declaring Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain “the only party that could ‘save Britain’.” In 2022 he met Macron and said he was “honored” to have spoken with the French leader, later endorsing Macron’s unpopular 2023 decision to raise the minimum retirement age—an issue Le Pen vows to reverse.
Official Statements & Responses
- “She is France’s last hope.” — Elon Musk, Owner of X
- “the only party that could ‘save Britain’.” — Elon Musk, X post
- “honored” to have spoken with the French leader. — Elon Musk, interview excerpt
Criticism & Opposition
Observers note Musk’s pattern of amplifying right-wing and far-right figures across Europe, raising concerns about the influence of a billionaire tech mogul on democratic contests. Critics argue that such endorsements lend legitimacy to parties with extremist histories and may skew public discourse ahead of a pivotal election.
Legal Scrutiny of X in France
French authorities have opened a criminal investigation into X’s Grok AI chatbot over sexually explicit deepfakes and prior antisemitic outputs. Paris police raided X’s offices in February, and prosecutors summoned Musk for an interview in April, which he did not attend. The probe underscores mounting regulatory pressure on the platform as it expands its European footprint.
