The Brussels elite have contended they are defending liberal democracy against authoritarianism at home and abroad. Their strident criticism of Elon Musk’s recent forays into European politics suggests that might not be true.

Musk has weighed in heavily in support of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the run-up to the February 23 German election. He has also endorsed Nigel Farage’s Reform Party in the United Kingdom, although he has also said that he doesn’t think Farage has what it takes to win. 

Either intervention would be unusual coming from an American centibillionaire. Were he to have simply made his comments in an interview, though, they would at most likely have engendered a mere shrug or quick rejoinder.

The fact that Musk owns one of the world’s leading social media platforms, X, and has a prominent personal account on it is what is driving the elites mad.