In the past, the EU has not hesitated to try to apply European law to tech companies. Over the past decade, for example, Google has faced three fines totaling more than $8 billion for breaking antitrust law (though one of these fines was overturned by the EU’s General Court in 2024).

I would prefer to stay out of politics,” Elon Musk told his followers in 2021, on the platform then known as Twitter. Plenty has changed since then. The world’s richest man appears to have a new goal: upending Europe.

Barely 10 days into Donald Trump’s second term, Elon Musk appears largely immune from the viscous, intramural power struggles over White House policy that are all too common among presidential allies.

Elon Musk's endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the country's general election has sparked calls for a boycott of his electric vehicles elsewhere in Europe. Mr Musk,

This story incorporates reporting from AOL.Wall Street banks are seeking to mitigate losses from the debt associated with Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. In an effort to recover a portion of their investment,