US billionaire Elon Musk exposed the core of the European Union’s democratic-deficit debate with a single comment under Ursula von der Leyen’s X post, delivering an embarrassing jab at the Commission president.
In the post, von der Leyen appeared in a video promoting the European Democracy Shield—a new non-legislative initiative by the European Commission and the European Parliament that provides financial support to so-called ‘independent’ media outlets and NGOs across the EU.
In practice, the scheme appears to serve as a replacement for the now-terminated US Agency for International Development (USAID), which had previously channelized substantial funding to European progressive organizations and media outlets, including Hungarian ones. Musk, in his capacity as Head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), played a key role in shutting down USAID’s operations.
‘The European Democracy Shield will protect and reinforce free speech, independent media, resilient institutions and a vibrant civil society,’ von der Leyen wrote, adding that democracy is the foundation of European freedom, prosperity, and security.
In response, Musk commented: ‘If democracy is the foundation of freedom, surely your position as leader of the EU should be elected directly by the people?’ His reply went viral, amassing over 15.5 million views and over 50,000 likes in just 24 hours.
With his remark, Musk underscored one of the EU’s most fundamental structural flaws: while von der Leyen’s Commission increasingly acts as a ‘geopolitical’ body, taking a leading role in decision-making rather than fulfilling its original executive mandate, it remains unelected and unaccountable to EU citizens.
Hungary has long criticized the steady transfer of powers from member states to the Commission, viewing it as a direct assault on national sovereignty. Balázs Orbán, political director to the Hungarian prime minister, echoed Musk’s sentiment, writing in response: ‘Hungary has learned that when Brussels talks about “defending democracy,” it usually means defending their power from democratic outcomes.’
Ursula von der Leyen has recently survived three motions of censure in the European Parliament by offering concessions to leftist and progressive groups. She was re-elected as Commission President in 2024 through a backroom deal struck between the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew, and part of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). The third-largest parliamentary group, the right-wing Patriots for Europe (PfE)—co-founded by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—was excluded from the negotiations.
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