The High-Ranking EU Official Committing U.S. Election Interference

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Thierry Breton, the European Union’s (EU’s) Commissioner for Internal Market, is one of its highest-ranking officials. On Monday, he made a bald-faced attempt to influence the U.S. presidential election.

In an open, snarky letter to Elon Musk on X (Twitter), hours before Musk was set to interview former President Donald Trump, Breton demanded “all proportionate and effective mitigation measures are put in place regarding the amplification of harmful content.” He warned of serious legal consequences if Musk did not comply.

The thinly veiled message was clear: drop the Trump interview.

The intimidation tactic flopped. Musk went forward with the interview, mocking Breton. Today, the Financial Times reported that Breton was acting rogue and that EU President Ursula von der Leyen did not approve the letter. The two have also feuded in the past.

While Breton looks weak and pathetic — he had to use Musk’s communications channel to challenge him and does not have the backing of his boss — this audacious act should be seen in a broader context and not dismissed.

Breton is a Europe First advocate, and that means taking down U.S. companies and the U.S. generally, given how weak Europe’s tech sector is. The EU’s Digital Service Act, which he referenced in threatening Musk, is being used to bludgeon large U.S. technology companies in Europe, because Europe has no such companies.

Breton knows this better than anyone. Prior to getting into politics, he was CEO of some of Europe’s biggest tech and telecommunication companies, which are a pittance in size compared to America’s. Those companies cannot compete and take tens of billions of dollars annually from U.S. companies. But the EU can do so, with its fines.

Given this, Breton’s interference should be watched carefully and publicly condemned as it can foment chaos and disruption. His election interference is just as dangerous as that from Russia, China, and Iran.