Amid a debate in France over measures to counter possible foreign interference ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Green Party leader and presidential candidate Marine Tondelier and Elon Musk exchanged statements over the X platform.
Tondelier said the US-based X platform could be shut down if foreign interference were detected during an election period. In a post on his X account, Musk responded to the proposal by saying, "I want her shut down for treason against France."
Responding to Musk, Tondelier said France did not need a patriotism lesson from a foreign billionaire who believed he could decide which European leader should be silenced.
Tondelier said she would rather be accused of defending democracy than of trying to buy it, criticizing Musk’s approach.

Debate over foreign interference in France
Possible foreign interference has been a focus of attention in France ahead of the presidential election planned for next year, after President Emmanuel Macron’s two-term tenure comes to an end.
It had been alleged that false reports linked to Russian foreign interference were circulated about former Prime Minister and presidential candidate Gabriel Attal. In the local elections held in March, it also emerged that an Israeli company had conducted disinformation campaigns targeting candidates from the pro-Palestinian La France Insoumise party.
The French government had pledged to take steps to strengthen efforts to counter the possibility of foreign interference in elections.
Musk’s comments on Le Pen
In June, Musk described Marine Le Pen, a leading figure in the far-right National Rally party and a presidential candidate, as "France’s last hope."