‘Will backfire’: Elon Musk slams French court’s verdict against Le Pen, calls it ‘abuse’

Elon Musk - File Photo

US presidential advisor Elon Musk rallied around far-right leader Marine Le Pen after a French court sentenced her to a five-year ban on running from for office. The tech billionaire called it an “abuse of the legal system”, and that it would “backfire”.

"This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump," Elon Musk wrote on X.

In another X post, Musk wrote: “When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world.”

When the radical left cant win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents.This is their standard playbook throughout the world. https://t.co/FgmgeyQ2rp

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2025

Le Pen was convicted over a scheme to take advantage of European Parliament expenses to employ assistants who were actually working for her far-right party in France.

Le Pen as well as the other officials from her party were banned from running for office, with the judge specifying that the sanction should come into force with immediate effect even if an appeal is lodged.

On Monday, Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence for embezzling European parliament funds. Her lawyer said she will appeal.

Le Pen will not serve time in prison. Two years of her sentence was suspended and the other two are to be served outside jail with an electronic bracelet, the court ruled. She was currently leading in opinion polls in advance of a presumed run for the 2027 election in France.

In recent months, while the White House has become increasingly critical of democracy in Europe, Musk has backed far-right causes across Europe.