Now Musk's escalating criticism and mocking of European leaders and governments, which he has done repeatedly via X, the social media platform he owns, has sparked a backlash from European governments amid increasing calls for regulatory action in Europe against X.

WASHINGTON − Elon Musk is keeping the pressure on European leaders. Musk frequently wields his 211.5-million-follower account on X, the social media platform he bought for $44 billion in 2022, to air political grievances and promote far-right issues.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has issued a withering response to billionaire Elon Musk’s endorsement of the country’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany.

In an interview, Scholz brushed off the comments from Musk that have included him calling the German chancellor a "fool."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said recent attacks from Elon Musk on him and some of the country’s other leading politicians don’t affect him or the nation’s democracy.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany’s election would “not be decided by the owners of social media channels” in his annual New Year’s Eve address.

Billionaire’s animosity toward German mainstream politicians and his affection for the AfD could bode poorly for Germany’s next government.

On his public journey to embracing Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Elon Musk has frequently amplified the online content of one young supporter of the party - climate change and COVID-19 lockdown sceptic Naomi Seibt.

Musk is using his influential social media platform X to endorse the far right in Germany ahead of its Feb. 23 election.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is preparing to host a live-streamed chat on his social media platform X on Thursday with a leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party, amplifying concerns across Europe about potential meddling by the world's richest man in the upcoming national election there.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany, demanded the release of jailed U.K. anti-Islam extremist Tommy Robinson and called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer an evil tyrant.