The Trump campaign accused the European Union on Monday of attempting to “meddle in the US Presidential election” after a top EU official warned billionaire Elon Musk not to amplify “potentially harmful content” ahead of his interview with Trump.
“The European Union should mind their own business instead of trying to meddle in the U.S. Presidential election,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
“Let us be very clear: the European Union is an enemy of free speech and has no authority of any kind to dictate how we campaign,” he added.
The statement followed EU Commissioner Thierry Breton’s open letter to Musk, 53, reminding the X owner that his social media platform is subject to the EU’s Digital Services Act – a sweeping provision that took effect last August and requires the largest tech companies to moderate content, protect user privacy and address risks to the public.
Musk is hosting a live “conversation” with Trump, 78, on X Spaces Monday night.
“With great audience comes greater responsibility,” Breton wrote on X, arguing that “there is a risk of amplification of potentially harmful content in [the EU] in connection with events with major audience around the world.”
Breton’s letter suggested that Musk’s livestream with Trump “might increase the risk profile of X and generate detrimental effects on civic discourse and public security.”
“My services and I will be extremely vigilant to any evidence that points to breaches of the DSA and will not hesitate to make full use of our toolbox, including by adopting interim measures, should it be warranted to protect EU citizens from serious harm,” the EU official warned.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino slammed the letter, calling it an “unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US.”
“It also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions,” she added.
Meanwhile, Musk replied to Breton’s post with a meme based on the 2008 film “Tropic Thunder” with the text, “TAKE A BIG STEP BACK AND LITERALLY, F–K YOUR OWN FACE!”
“To be honest, I really wanted to respond with this Tropic Thunder meme, but I would NEVER do something so rude & irresponsible!” he wrote alongside the meme.
The Trump campaign further suggested that the EU never would’ve sent the letter if Trump were in the White House.
“Only in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ America can an un-Democratic foreign organization feel emboldened enough to tell this country what to do,” Cheung said. “They know that a President Trump victory means America will no longer be ripped off because he will smartly utilize tariffs and renegotiated trade deals that puts America First.”
