A letter from the European Union ahead of Elon Musk’s interview with former President Donald Trump prompted fiery responses from both the social media platform and the Trump campaign.
The European Union was told to essentially “mind their own business” by Trump’s election campaign in a statement accusing the EU of being “an enemy of free speech.”
EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton wrote a letter to Musk ahead of the interview with the Republican presidential nominee whose account as president was suspended by the previous management of what was then known as Twitter. Though Musk reinstated Trump’s account, he had only posted once in 2023.
“With great audience comes greater responsibility,” Breton wrote. “As there is a risk of amplification of potentially harmful content in [the EU] in connection with events with major audience around the world, I sent this letter to [Elon Musk].”
Telling the billionaire X owner that he was “compelled to remind” him of the “due diligence obligations set out in the Digital Services Act (DSA),” Breton wrote that this “means ensuring, on one hand, that freedom of expression and of information, including media freedom and pluralism, are effectively protected and, on the other hand, that all proportionate and effective mitigation measures are put in place regarding the amplification of harmful content in connection with relevant events, including live streaming, which, if unaddressed, might increase the risk profile of X and generate detrimental effects on civic discourse and public security.”
In a statement, Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung replied: “The European Union should mind their own business instead of trying to meddle in the U.S. Presidential election.”
The European Union should mind their own business instead of trying to meddle in the U.S. Presidential election.
Only in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ America can an un-Democratic foreign organization feel emboldened enough to tell this country what to do. They know that a… https://t.co/imnczrEkmh
— Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) August 12, 2024
“Only in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ America can an un-Democratic foreign organization feel emboldened enough to tell this country what to do. 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,” Cheung continued.
“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 concluded.
Linda Yaccarino, the chief executive officer of X, had also fired back, blasting the EU chief for his “unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US,”
She added that the letter “also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions.”
Musk found a more colorful way to respond, posting a meme from the movie “Tropic Thunder.”
To be honest, I really wanted to respond with this Tropic Thunder meme, but I would NEVER do something so rude & irresponsible! https://t.co/jL0GDW5QUx pic.twitter.com/XhUxCSGFNP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2024
European nations are losing their culture and identities by allowing others to dictate what is permissible to say or not say. What is happening with you people? This is “progressivism” unleashed. This happened once before, back in the 1930s!