
The European Union has extended a warm welcome to Elon Musk, following his public falling-out with US President Donald Trump. When asked whether Musk had reached out to the EU to relocate his businesses or set up new ones, spokesperson Paula Pinho replied with a smile, “He’s very welcome”. This statement was made during the Commission’s daily briefing, emphasizing the EU’s openness to innovators and entrepreneurs.
The EU’s enthusiasm for Musk’s potential involvement comes despite his history of criticizing the 27-nation bloc. Musk has previously attacked the EU’s digital laws, labeling them as censorship, and has expressed support for far-right movements in Germany and elsewhere. However, Thomas Regnier, the commission’s spokesperson for tech matters, stressed that “everyone is very welcome indeed to start and to scale in the EU”. Regnier highlighted the EU’s initiative, “Choose Europe,” which aims to support start-ups and expanding businesses.
The public feud between Musk and Trump began when Trump declared himself “very disappointed” in Musk’s criticisms, leading to a heated exchange of insults on social media. Trump threatened to strip Musk of government contracts worth an estimated $18 billion, prompting Musk to vow to end a critical US spaceship program. According to Trump, the rift occurred because Musk had gone “crazy” about a plan to end electric vehicle subsidies in the new US spending bill, causing Tesla’s shares to plummet.
Musk’s interest in European politics is driven by his desire to undermine EU regulation, particularly the Digital Services Act, which threatens the growth and profitability of his social media platform, X. By supporting far-right movements and questioning the EU’s democratic processes, Musk aims to create a more favorable business environment. This strategy is likely driven by economic interests, as the EU’s regulatory framework poses a challenge to X’s operations.
The EU’s welcoming stance towards Musk may be seen as a strategic move to attract investment and talent, despite concerns about his influence on European politics. As the EU continues to grapple with disinformation and online safety, Musk’s role in shaping the continent’s digital landscape will likely remain a topic of debate. With the European Commission intensifying its scrutiny of X’s compliance with the Digital Services Act, Musk’s actions will be closely watched in the coming months.