Elon Musk and US senior officials criticize EU over X fine

Musk specifically said the EU should be "abolished" so that member countries could "sovereignty returned." He previously posted several messages criticizing the European Union.

"The EU should be abolished, and sovereignty returned to individual countries, so that governments can better represent their people," the billionaire wrote.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also responded to the fine. He called the European Commission's actions an "attack" on Musk's platform and on American companies more broadly.

"The European Commission's $140 million fine isn't just an attack on X, it's an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments. The days of censoring Americans online are over," Rubio wrote.

Vice President JD Vance also spoke out. He posted a message demanding that the EU should be "supporting free speech" and not penalize Musk's platform.

"Rumors swirling that the EU commission will fine X hundreds of millions of dollars for not engaging in censorship. The EU should be supporting free speech, not attacking American companies over garbage," Vance wrote.

The European Commission fined Musk's company X €120 million (around $140 million). Despite statements from US officials, the real reason for the fine is not related to "free speech."

The penalty stems from violations of EU digital services rules, specifically the "deceptive design" of the blue verification check. The investigation began two years ago, in December 2023.