Trump Free Speech Attack on Europe Sets Up Big Tech Fight

Allies of president eager to boost far-right parties in Europe
EU social-media laws under fire from Trump and US tech giants

Elon Musk raises his fists as he speaks virtually during the Alternative for Germany (AfD) general election campaign launch in Halle, Germany, on Jan. 25, 2025.Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

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By Gian Volpicelli and Alberto Nardelli

February 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Donald Trump’s administration is using freedom of speech as the latest line of attack on the European Union in a campaign that’s shaking the foundations of an alliance that stretches back to the dawn of the Cold War.

The interest in free speech, which includes attacks on European protections against election interference from malign actors such as Russia, appears focused on boosting far-right parties. Trump has found allies among tech magnates like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who are fighting regulators’ attempts to rein in US tech giants.