Elon Musk Says EU Is “Smothering Europe to Death,” Should Be Abolished
The tech billionaire’s comments came after the EU imposed a major fine on X, fueling his broader criticism that European regulators are undermining free expression and stifling innovation across the c
Europe, PUREWILAYAH.COM — The European Commission has imposed a €120 million ($163 million) fine on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, accusing it of violating transparency standards under the 2022 Digital Services Act.
The Commission ruled that X’s blue checkmark system was “deceptive,” cited weak transparency in advertising, and said the company failed to provide required data access to researchers.
Musk Responds: “The EU Should Be Abolished”
In a series of posts following the ruling, Elon Musk sharply criticized Brussels’ regulatory approach, arguing that excessive bureaucracy is suffocating Europe, said:
“EU bureaucracy is slowly smothering Europe to death,” Musk said in a post on the platform.
Musk wrote that the “EU should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual countries,” calling the bloc a “bureaucratic monster.”
The tech mogul has long accused EU institutions of constructing a regulatory system that stifles innovation and imposes disproportionate controls on digital platforms.
US Officials Condemn EU Decision
Senior officials in Washington swiftly came to Musk’s defense.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the ruling “an attack on American tech platforms by foreign governments.”
Vice President J.D. Vance argued the EU targeted X because it “refused to engage in censorship.”
US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder added that Washington “opposes censorship and will challenge burdensome regulations targeting US companies abroad.”
EU Defends Its Position, Officials Push Back Against Musk
Henna Virkkunen, European Commission Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, defended the penalty, stating:
“Deceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads, and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU.”
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski responded to Musk’s criticism with a sarcastic remark on social media, writing: “Go to Mars. There’s no censorship of Nazi salutes there.”
This referred to accusations circulating online after Musk was alleged to have performed the salute during celebrations of US President Donald Trump’s second-term inauguration in January 2025. (PW)