Elon Musk angers the crowd, Trump responds: He is very smart

SpaceX owner Musk sparks fury with comments about European countries – and Trump responds.

"Elon is very intelligent": the world's richest man is also "doing a good job," according to US President Donald Trump, after Elon Musk sparked outrage across Europe with comments about the UK and Germany.

Trump appointed Musk – along with another billionaire, Vishal Goyal – to head a new "Department for Government Efficiency" in his administration in November. But Musk has since taken aim at leaders in several European capitals, particularly British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who he attacked for his performance as a prosecutor. Musk also expressed support for Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland party (AfD) and said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz should "resign immediately" in the immediate aftermath of the mass killing at a Christmas market in Magdeburg in December.

When asked at a press conference on Tuesday whether he had concerns about Musk's comments about Germany and Britain, Trump dismissed any idea that Musk had done anything untoward.

"I could say Elon is doing a good job," Trump told reporters. "He's a very smart individual." "He made some not particularly kind remarks about several of the individuals that were running for office, and I guess in England and Germany," Trump said. "I guess this happens a little bit all the time. He is very smart, and it's a great thing for our country and our government to have somebody like that working for us and helping us."

Ignoring concerns about billionaire ally Musk attacking European governments one by one: POLITICO Europe's Playbook.

The UK's Guardian newspaper reported that Musk's attacks on Starmer had become too much for the prime minister, who called Musk out publicly following yet another anti-Keir broadside. "You cannot constantly lie to the British people. It's not acceptable. It's not going to stand," said Starmer, adding that "we're not going to let this go on."

German government spokesperson Christian Strothoff also responded to Musk, saying that his attacks on Scholz's government amounted to a "public intervention" ahead of the Bundestag's elections in February 2025. Politicians from across the political spectrum chimed in to express annoyance at Musk's comments, as did France's President Emmanuel Macron, who on Wednesday did not name Musk, but appeared to be referencing him.

"Who could have imagined ten years ago that the owner of one of the world's largest social networks ... would not only support a new international reactionary crusade, but also interfere directly in other countries' elections, including those in Germany?" Macron said at an event in Paris.