Italy’s President Censures Trump Appointee Musk After Autocracy Remarks

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expressed “grave concern” over statements made by Elon Musk, the former CEO of Twitter and a close ally of former US President Donald Trump, in which Musk praised Chinese authoritarianism.

Mattarella, a former judge and constitutional scholar, said that Musk’s remarks, made during a recent interview with the Financial Times, were “deeply alarming” and showed a “lack of understanding of the values that underpin democracy.”

Musk, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration and its policies, has repeatedly praised China’s economic growth and technological advancements, and has said that he believes that the Chinese government’s authoritarian approach is more effective than Western-style democracy.

In the interview with the Financial Times, Musk said that he believes that “China is going to take over the world” and that the United States is “not going to be able to compete” with China unless it adopts a more authoritarian approach.

Musk’s remarks have been widely condemned by politicians and human rights activists, who say that they show a lack of understanding of the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of democratic values.

Mattarella, in a statement released by his office, said that Musk’s remarks were “deeply alarming” and showed a “lack of understanding of the values that underpin democracy.”

“The values of democracy, freedom, and human rights are not negotiable,” Mattarella said. “They are the foundation of our societies, and we must never take them for granted.”

Musk’s remarks come at a time when there is growing concern about the rise of authoritarianism around the world, including in Europe.

In recent years, there has been a backsliding of democratic norms in countries such as Hungary, Poland, and Turkey, and there is concern that this trend could spread to other countries.

Mattarella’s statement is a clear signal that Italy will not tolerate any attempts to undermine democratic values.