Russia and Trump allies rally behind Musk’s call to abolish EU as Poland warns of fracturing transatlantic alliance
Elon Musk sparked a transatlantic diplomatic spat on 6 December when he posted on X that the European Union "should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual countries, so that governments can better represent their people". The statement came hours after the European Commission imposed a 120-million-euro fine on his social media platform X for violating transparency requirements under the Digital Services Act.
The collision reveals how platform regulation disputes can rapidly escalate into geopolitical flashpoints, particularly as Europe navigates strained relations with both Russia and an increasingly unpredictable US administration under President Donald Trump.
Russian official backs Musk's anti-EU stance
Within hours of Musk's post, Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's Security Council Deputy Chairman and former president, responded with a single word: "Exactly". The endorsement transformed Musk's frustration over regulatory penalties into a geopolitical messaging opportunity for Moscow, which has long sought to undermine European unity amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski fired back with a pointed tweet:
"If anyone still had doubts about who all this anti-EU talk about sovereignty serves. Those who want to profit from sowing hatred and those who want to conquer Europe."
The statement directly connected Musk's rhetoric to Russian geopolitical interests.
Digital Services Act triggers billionaire's outrage
The European Commission's 120-million-euro penalty marked the first content-related fine under the Digital Services Act, which entered force to regulate Big Tech platforms operating in the EU, according to the Commission's official statement.
Brussels concluded that X violated transparency obligations in three areas:
- Using verification "blue checkmarks" in deceptive ways by allowing anyone to purchase verified status without proper identity verification
- Failing to maintain an accessible and transparent advertising repository with critical information about ad funders and content
- Refusing to provide researchers access to public data necessary for monitoring systemic risks
The fine represents a fraction of potential penalties under the DSA, which allows sanctions up to 6% of a company's annual global turnover, the BBC reported.
US Vice President-elect JD Vance swiftly condemned the penalty, posting that "the EU should be supporting free speech not attacking American companies over garbage". His statement, which garnered over 50 million views, signaled that the incoming Trump administration views EU regulation of American tech platforms as a foreign policy issue rather than a legal matter.
Orbán backs Musk against "Brusselian overlords"
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government has clashed repeatedly with Brussels over democratic backsliding concerns, posted his support for Musk on 6 December:
"The Commission's attack on X says it all. When the Brusselian overlords cannot win the debate, they reach for the fines. Europe needs free speech, not unelected bureaucrats deciding what we can read or say. Hats off to @elonmusk for holding the line."
The message amplified Musk's framing of the dispute as a battle between free expression and bureaucratic overreach.
Polish PM defends transatlantic alliance
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded to the escalating tensions with a message on X:
"Dear American friends, Europe is your closest ally, not your problem. And we have common enemies. At least that's how it has been in the last 80 years. We need to stick to this."
The post garnered millions of views, becoming one of X's most-viewed messages of the day and signaling widespread European anxiety about shifting American priorities.
The exchange comes against the backdrop of the Trump administration's revised National Security Strategy, published 4 December, which the Kremlin welcomed as "largely consistent with our vision."
The document warns that Europe faces "civilizational erasure" and identifies ending the Ukraine war as a "core" American interest while blaming Brussels for blocking peace efforts. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the strategy's adjustments a "modest guarantee" for Ukraine settlement talks—rare praise from Moscow for a US security document.
Press freedom data contradicts Musk's claims
Musk defended his position by posting on X that the European Union represents "BUREAUcracy – rule of the unelected bureaucrat" rather than democracy.
However, the 2024 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders places eight of the top ten countries for press freedom within the EU, including Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, and Portugal. The United States, by contrast, ranks 57th—marking its lowest position on record.
With Musk influencing Trump policy, Russia amplifying his anti-EU rhetoric, and Hungary siding with the tech billionaire, Europe faces a coordinated assault on its regulatory independence precisely when it needs transatlantic unity against Russian aggression in Ukraine.
