In addition to his participation in the future Trump administration, the richest man in the world continues to make headlines by showing interference in European political life. Indeed, after the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market, the owner of the social network of hope” for Germany. During the campaign for the European elections, the head of the Afd list finally had to withdraw after asserting that the SS “were not automatically criminals”.
Two months before the legislative elections in Germany, this positioning raises questions. Especially since this is not the first time that Elon Musk has relayed conspiracy theories and become the spokesperson for the far-right. This summer, during the riots in England, Elon Musk widely relayed false information, thus fueling the violence of the demonstrations. A look back at the motivations and reasons for these positions with Tristan Mendès France, associate lecturer at Paris Cité University, specialist in digital issues and conspiracy. Interview.
How should we interpret Elon Musk's positions? Can we also attribute these positions to Donald Trump?
A priori, it is the personal initiative of Elon Musk. He says things that an elected Donald Trump wouldn't necessarily say but they don't necessarily disagree on substance. Its objective is quite simple, it seeks to influence the political direction of different European countries. This is why he takes a stand at times of great social tension, such as during this summer's riots in England or in the run-up to elections, as in Germany. The English episode is also the most worrying of them because by adding fuel to the fire, it demonstrated that it could amplify very worrying, violent situations.
Through these positions, is Elon Musk trying to bring together a network bringing together the different far-right movements?
I believe his method is deeply compulsive and it fits with his radical political vision. During the riots in London, he only relayed the vision of the local far right. He generally offers fairly instinctive reactions. He almost exclusively relays the positions of influencers and far-right groups that appear in his feed Europe only through far-right activists. It is a fantasized vision which does not result from in-depth work which leads him to relay an incalculable number of false information as when he calls on the King of England to dissolve the chamber, a power which he does not didn't.
How does Elon Musk's support and expression allow the far-right to develop?
He is in tune with the evolving developments of the far right. He shares the same discourse, of an ultranationalist vision of the world, of freedom of expression which would be in absolute danger in our Western democracies. It also conveys this paranoia of a system that would seek to destroy nations and asserts that Western countries must return to traditional values against a kind of diversity induced by migration. It revitalizes these movements by giving them a tool and a communication device with X, an extremely powerful tool for these radicalities in Europe. They obtain an unexpected transmission belt. The character itself creates a form of synergy. He has the impression of being at the head of a form of far-right international. Ultimately, it acts as an accelerator for local far-right influencers.
Should we expect any developments once Donald Trump officially takes office?
We will have to see after January 20 if he does not have stronger constraints on the international scene. The pressures should be stronger in the long term if Musk becomes embarrassing for US diplomacy. But a priori there is no reason for him to restrain himself. There is not necessarily a fundamental disagreement with Donald Trump but it would be much more a question of shade, of knowing whether two such egotistical personalities can coexist.
