Elon Musk Criticized by Italy's President for Posts on Court Rulings

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Italian President Sergio Mattarella criticized Elon Musk on Wednesday for his recent remarks about Italian court rulings on migration cases.

What Did Musk Say?

Musk, who is expected to have a top advisory role in President-elect Donald Trump's new administration, criticized Monday's Italian court ruling against right-wing Premier Giorgia Meloni's Albania immigration deal.

Musk wrote on his platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, "These judges need to go," setting off an online political debate.

In a follow-up post, Musk questioned Italy's democratic integrity, writing, "This is unacceptable. Do the people of Italy live in a democracy or does an unelected autocracy make the decisions?"

His remarks came after a Rome court's refusal to rule on a request to detain seven migrants rescued at sea and transferred to Albania for processing.

Monday's ruling, which resulted in the men being brought to Italy for processing, was the second judicial setback for Meloni's touted plan to outsource to Albania to process some male asylum-seekers.

What Did Mattarella Say?

While Mattarella refrained from mentioning Musk by name, his Wednesday statement seemed unmistakably directed at the billionaire as he demanded respect for the country's sovereignty, especially from other soon-to-be public officials.

"Italy is a great democratic country and...knows how to take care of itself while respecting its Constitution," Mattarella said in a statement issued by his spokesman.

"Anyone, particularly if as announced is about to assume an important role of government in a friendly and allied country, must respect its sovereignty and cannot attribute to himself the task of imparting prescriptions," the statement said.

What's Happening With Italy's Migration

This comes as Meloni's far-right government has been visibly angered by a series of Italian court rulings stalling its high-profile immigration plan. The strategy aims to reduce the pressure of Europe-bound migrants on Italy by processing some asylum seekers in Albania—a move her government heralds as a solution for Italy and a model for the EU's wider migration challenges.

Despite the government's intent, the Italian courts recently referred the cases to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg to determine whether migrants' home countries meet EU standards for safe repatriation. There is no timeline for the European court's decision, leaving the Albanian centers idle.

These court blocks on Meloni's project have effectively halted any processing of migrants in the new centers, which are expected to cost Italy €670 million ($730 million) over the next five years.

Italy's political opposition argues this money could be more wisely spent bolstering Italy's own processing facilities, while human rights groups assert the outsourcing effort runs counter to international law.

The Albanian centers, operational since October after a months-long delay, remain under Italy's jurisdiction, though secured by Albanian guards.

Musk's Influence

The conflict underscores Musk's increasing influence as he prepares for his new advisory role with the Trump administration. Trump announced Tuesday Musk would help lead a Department of Government Efficiency, essentially an independent advisory panel to eliminate waste and fraud.

Musk has publicly supported Meloni's policies and was recently photographed alongside her at a U.N. event, fueling rumors about their alignment on issues of governance and sovereignty.

Musk also has a history of making provocative statements and sparring with leaders on X.

Earlier this year, he posted messages insulting U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and saying the United Kingdom was headed for civil war.

He has also clashed with a Brazilian supreme court justice over free speech and also accused Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, of "major election fraud" after that country's recent disputed election.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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