Elon Musk threatens democracies says French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media network X and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, poses a threat to democracies, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou says.

“Elon Musk is creating a threat to democracies,” Bayrou said in a local TV interview on Monday.

“Money should not give the right to rule consciences.”

Bayrou’s comments about Musk come after he warned last week that France and Europe as a whole would have to stand up to Trump and his policies, or risk being “dominated ... crushed ... marginalised.”

Mr Musk, the choef executive officer of Tesla and the world’s richest person, has shown a willingness to weigh in on foreign political issues.

He recently endorsed a German anti-immigration party ahead of elections slated in February, and has repeatedly commented on British politics, demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer resign.

Mr Musk made a surprise appearance during Germany’s Alternative fuer Deutschland election campaign event in eastern Germany recently, speaking publicly in support of the far right party for the second time in as many weeks.

Addressing a hall of 4500 people alongside AfD party leader Alice Weidel, Musk spoke live via video link about preserving German culture and protecting the German people.

“It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said.

Despite winter weather, anti-far right campaigners were out in force on Saturday, with around 100,000 gathering around Berlin’s Brandenburg gate and up to 20,000 in Cologne, including people of all ages carrying colourful umbrellas.

Last week, the US billionaire caused uproar after he made a gesture that drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute during US President Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities.