Musk, Trump admin shred $140M fine lodged by EU against X social media platform

Elon Musk and Trump administration officers issued blistering criticism of the European Union after the chief department imposed a $140 million tremendous on its social media platform X.

“The EU have to be abolished and sovereignty returned to particular person nations in order that governments can higher characterize their individuals.” Musk wrote about X on Saturday, earlier than including: “AbolishTheEU.”

The European Fee stated on Friday that it has fined X for “failure to adjust to transparency obligations” beneath the Digital Companies Act (DSA), including that it particularly held The fee positioned the $140 million tremendous on X.

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Elon Musk, Vice President JD Vance (heart) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (proper) condemned the EU’s $140 million tremendous towards X. (Nathan Howard/Reuters; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos; Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Photos/Getty Photos)

Friday was in response to a X message from Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas calls the tremendous an “abomination” and says President Donald Trump ought to impose sanctions “till this travesty is undone.” Musk replied: “The ‘EU’ has imposed this insane tremendous not solely on X, but additionally on me personally, which is much more insane!”

“Subsequently, it appears acceptable to use our response not solely to the EU, but additionally to the people who took this motion towards me,” Musk wrote. mention the fine in another post “bulls—.” He additionally stated: “I like Europe, however not the bureaucratic monster that’s the EU.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the tremendous “isn’t just an assault on X, it’s an assault on all American know-how platforms and the American individuals by overseas governments.”

Earlier than the tremendous was introduced, Vice President JD Vance said: “The EU ought to help freedom of expression and never assault American firms over waste.”

The EU adopted the DSA in 2022 to manage on-line platforms reminiscent of social networks and “forestall unlawful and dangerous on-line actions and the unfold of disinformation,” however the legislation has since confronted opposition from the EU. Trump administration amid the promotion of freedom of expression on the world stage.

Thomas Reigner, spokesperson for Tech Sovereignty, Protection, Area and Analysis on the committee, argued throughout a briefing Friday that the tremendous was not associated to content material moderation.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is amongst Trump administration officers talking out towards the tremendous imposed on X. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu by way of Getty Photos/Getty Photos)

“Right now’s resolution has nothing to do with content material moderation,” Reigner stated. “These are transparency provisions for residents right here within the European Union.”

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Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said on X that “the Digital Companies Act is meant to stifle free speech and American know-how firms,” and: “We’ve got made our place clear to our counterparts in Europe.”

“International bureaucrats have zero proper to inform Individuals what they’ll and can’t say.” added Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.

‘Europe once more fines a profitable American know-how firm as a result of it’s a profitable American know-how firm’ said Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr. “Europe taxes Individuals to subsidize a continent hamstrung by Europe’s personal stifling laws.”

Elon Musk throughout a press convention with President Donald Trump, not pictured, within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on Friday, Could 30, 2025. (Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos/Getty Photos)

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Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., stated, “America is completed wanting the opposite approach whereas overseas governments attempt to censor our individuals and bully our companies.”

The European Fee additional defined its reasoning in a press launch.

“X’s use of the ‘blue verify mark’ for ‘verified accounts’ deceives customers,” the fee stated in a press release. “On This deception exposes customers to scams, together with impersonation fraud, and different types of manipulation by malicious actors.”

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“X’s advert repository doesn’t meet the DSA’s transparency and accessibility necessities. Accessible and searchable advert repositories are vital for researchers and civil society to detect scams, hybrid menace campaigns, coordinated data operations and faux advertisements,” the report stated.

FOX Enterprise’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.