Musk calls French school protests a «slow invasion» in post replying to Trump
In short
Elon Musk, replying on X to a repost of a comment by US President Donald Trump, described the school protests in France as a «slow invasion» and said those who support it are «traitors who deserve the fate of all traitors». Vedomosti reported that Musk did not specify whom he considers the invading side. The protests by French high-school students began in late September over teacher and medical staff shortages, overloaded schedules and overcrowded classes.
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Elon Musk described the school protests in France as a «slow invasion» and said that those who support them are «traitors who deserve the fate of all traitors», according to RIA Novosti, Vedomosti, TASS and RBC. The comment was posted on X in reply to a repost of a comment by US President Donald Trump, RIA Novosti and Vedomosti reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Vedomosti reported that the businessman did not specify whom he considers the invading side. The outlets' accounts of his wording differ slightly: RIA Novosti and Vedomosti quote him as referring to «those who support» the events, while the TASS summary states that he called all participants traitors. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The comment followed Trump's statement on 6 October that mass migration in France had got out of control and that Islam, in his view, was seeking to «seize» the country, Vedomosti reported. According to the same outlet, Trump said the situation was connected to migration rather than to problems in schools. [ 2 ]
The protests by French high-school students began in late September, Vedomosti reported. Participants are demanding solutions to shortages of teachers and medical staff, overloaded schedules and overcrowded classrooms, the outlet said. [ 2 ]
According to Vedomosti, police detained 625 protest participants on 30 September, and by 5 October the number of injured schoolchildren had reached 190. On 6 October, French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting on the protests, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and National Education Minister Édouard Geffroy due to take part, the outlet reported. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
A US tech billionaire and a US president commenting on street protests in France puts the demonstrations into a migration frame rather than the school-staffing frame used by the protesters themselves, as reported by Vedomosti. The remarks came as French President Emmanuel Macron called an emergency meeting on the protests, indicating the unrest has become a matter for the head of state and his government.
Key facts
- Elon Musk wrote on X, replying to a repost of a comment by Donald Trump, that the protests of French school students are a «slow invasion». [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Musk also wrote that those who support the protests are «traitors who deserve the fate of all traitors». [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti reported that Musk did not specify whom he considers the invading side. [ 2 ]
- On 6 October Trump said mass migration in France had got out of control and that Islam, in his view, was seeking to «seize» the country, arguing the situation was about migration and not school problems. [ 2 ]
- High-school students' protests began in France in late September, with participants demanding solutions to shortages of teachers and medical staff, overloaded schedules and overcrowded classrooms. [ 2 ]
- Police detained 625 protest participants on 30 September, and by 5 October the number of injured schoolchildren had reached 190, according to Vedomosti. [ 2 ]
- On 6 October French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting on the protests, which Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and National Education Minister Édouard Geffroy were to attend. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whom Musk considers the invading side. Vedomosti states explicitly that the businessman did not specify who he meant.
- Whether Musk was referring to all protest participants or only to those supporting them. The quotes in the RIA Novosti and Vedomosti articles refer to «those who support» the events, while the TASS summary says he called all participants traitors.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti publishes Musk's comment on the French school protests. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti publishes its report, adding the background to the protests and Musk's reply to Trump's post. [ 2 ]
- TASS publishes its report under the headline that Musk called the protests a «slow invasion», saying he called all participants traitors. [ 3 ]
- RBC publishes its report on the same comment, referring to the head of Tesla, SpaceX and xAI. [ 4 ]