Elon Musk backs Marine Le Pen as France's last hope

Tech billionaire Elon Musk used his X platform to endorse far‑right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, writing that she is “France's last hope.” The post, seen by millions of followers, sparked swift criticism from French officials, including Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot, who accused Musk of foreign interference and called on regulator ARCOM to act. Le Pen, who has been convicted of embezzling European Parliament funds, recently had her disqualification reduced by an appeals court, allowing her to run in the 2027 French presidential election. The endorsement raises concerns about the influence of powerful social‑media owners on democratic processes as the election draws near.