Jean-Noël Barrot accuses Elon Musk of harassing European leaders

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has accused Elon Musk of orchestrating ‘massive online harassment campaigns’ against European leaders. Speaking at an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development conference, Barrot claimed these activities are part of a broader pattern of foreign interference intended to destabilize democratic institutions in Europe and North America.

Barrot argued that authoritarian-leaning political movements are exploiting societal divisions—specifically citing immigration, secularism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—to polarize public debate and seize power. He identified France’s 2027 presidential election as a specific target for these destabilization efforts.

In addition to targeting Musk, the minister cited other instances of interference, including an unnamed Israeli company accused of using fake social media accounts to shape perceptions of the Israel-Gaza conflict, and allegations that Azerbaijan exploited tensions during unrest in New Caledonia. Barrot emphasized that France will maintain an uncompromising stance to protect its national sovereignty against such coordinated social media campaigns.