The unfiltered discussion between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which reportedly generated a billion views on Monday night, has certainly caused quite a stir. In response to the conversation, the Washington Post asked the White House if there was anything they could do to stop it from taking place. Meanwhile, the EU’s Thierry Breton, the current Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union, sent a letter to Musk threatening him with punishment if he did not crack down on “content that promotes hatred, disorder, incitement to violence, or certain instances of disinformation.
Musk responded appropriately by releasing a meme from the 2008 film Tropic Thunder, which showed one character yelling: “Take a big step back and literally fuck your own face.” This harsh rebuke has raised eyebrows in Brussels, with accusations that Breton went rogue by sending the letter without seeking approval from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In an official statement reported by the Financial Times, the European Commission clarified that “the timing and the wording of the letter were neither coordinated nor agreed with the president nor with the [commissioners].” This has led some to question Breton’s motives, as one EU official who asked not to be named said: “Thierry has his own mind and way of working and thinking.
Politico Europe reports that four separate EU officials stated that Breton’s threat to Musk caught many off guard within the Commission. One official emphasized that “the EU is not in the business of electoral interference,” adding that “DSA implementation is too important to be misused by an attention-seeking politician in search of his next big job.
The Trump campaign spokesperson responded by saying, “The European Union should mind their own business instead of trying to meddle in the US presidential election,” while Musk later posted that he would be “happy to host” Kamala Harris for a similar discussion.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino called Breton’s letter an “unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US,” and Trump campaign official Chris LaCivita said that the “European Union is attempting to meddle in the US Election,” adding “They can go to hell.
In summary, the unfiltered discussion between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has generated significant controversy, with the EU’s Thierry Breton sending a threatening letter to Musk. However, it seems that many within the European Commission are not on board with this move, as they believe it is not their place to interfere in US politics. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will impact both the Trump campaign and Elon Musk’s X platform.
