Trump Criticizes EU’s €120 Million Fine on Elon Musk’s X Platform

U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized the European Union’s recent decision to impose a €120 million ($140 million) fine on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, calling the move “a nasty one” and questioning how EU regulators could justify it. Speaking to reporters at a White House event, Trump warned that “Europe is going in some bad directions” and said he expected a full briefing on the issue. He emphasized that Musk had not contacted him for support but added that the EU “has to be very careful” with actions targeting major American tech companies.

The European Commission levied the fine after determining that X breached several obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), including failing to offer researchers adequate access to public data, maintaining an incomplete advertising repository, and using deceptive design elements tied to its blue checkmark verification system. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen defended the penalty as proportionate, stressing that the DSA “has nothing to do with censorship” and applies equally to all platforms regardless of nationality. Regulators argue the measures are essential to protecting democratic processes and maintaining transparency in the digital ecosystem.

Musk dismissed the ruling outright, responding “Bullshit” to the Commission’s announcement and amplifying posts criticizing the fine. He reiterated that “freedom of speech is the bedrock of democracy,” claiming such regulations undermine open dialogue. Senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, also condemned the EU’s action, characterizing it as an attack on American companies and digital free expression.

In contrast, TikTok—which faced similar concerns in May for failing to maintain a complete public ad repository—avoided penalties after promising improvements to its ad library. The platform urged EU regulators to apply rules consistently across all major tech companies, highlighting the growing global debate over transparency, platform accountability, and the balance between regulation and free speech in the digital age.