French President Emmanuel Macron Criticizes Elon Musk as 'Over-Subsidised'
French President Emmanuel Macron has recently made pointed remarks about US tech billionaire Elon Musk, labeling him as "over-subsidised" by American taxpayers. Speaking at an industrial summit held in the Belgian city of Antwerp, Macron used Musk's Starlink satellite internet project as a key example to advocate for increased public investment in European industries.
Macron's Comments on Musk and Starlink
During his address, Macron expressed a mix of admiration and criticism. "Everybody is fascinated by Starlink. I'm super happy," he stated, acknowledging the innovation behind the project. However, he quickly added a more critical perspective, saying, "But if you are lucid, Mr. Musk is probably one of the guys in the world who has had in his pockets the most billions of dollars from American taxpayers."
Macron further elaborated, "Elon Musk is first an oversubsidised guy by the federal agency in the US," while still recognizing the approach as "super-innovative." His comments highlight a growing concern in Europe about competing with heavily subsidized American tech giants and the need for strategic public funding to bolster domestic industries.
Elon Musk's Sharp Rebuttal
Upset by Macron's assertions, Elon Musk swiftly took to X to reject the claims. In a direct response, he wrote, "Actually, that's our competitors, especially in Europe." Musk did not stop there; he pushed back further with detailed comparisons in another post.
He argued, "If you add up all the government funding Tesla and SpaceX have ever received, it is only about 1% of the combined value of the companies. In contrast, if you do that with US and European major aerospace companies, the government money they have received *exceeds* 100% of their value!" This rebuttal aims to shift the focus to what Musk perceives as disproportionate subsidies in traditional aerospace sectors compared to his ventures.
Historical Context of Macron's Criticism
Notably, this is not the first instance of tension between Macron and Musk. In January 2025, the French President accused the world's richest man of intervening directly in Europe's democratic processes. Macron wrote on X at that time, "Ten years ago, who would have imagined that the owner of one of the world's largest social networks would be supporting a new international reactionary movement and intervening directly in elections, including in Germany."
This previous criticism adds depth to the current dispute, suggesting an ongoing friction over Musk's influence in global politics and technology. The exchange underscores broader debates about:
- The role of government subsidies in fostering innovation
- Competition between American and European tech industries
- The political impact of billionaire entrepreneurs on democratic systems
As this dialogue continues, it reflects the complex interplay between technology, economics, and geopolitics in the modern era.
