U.S. Denies France’s Request in X Probe; Europe Plans Hormuz Force

The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs rejected multiple French requests for help in a criminal probe of Elon Musk’s social media platform X, saying the inquiry would improperly draw the United States into a politically charged proceeding and could conflict with the First Amendment.

In a two-page letter, U.S. officials wrote that the French requests would “entangle the United States in a politically charged criminal proceeding aimed at wrongfully regulating through prosecution the business activities of a social media platform,” and that the probe sought to use criminal law “to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions in a manner contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

French authorities made three separate assistance requests to Washington in 2025, including attempts to serve legal summons on X officials. Investigators raided X’s Paris office in February. X described the raid as “an abusive act of law enforcement theater.” French prosecutors have summoned Elon Musk, former CEO Linda Yaccarino and other employees for interviews; Musk was scheduled to appear on Monday. Under French law, failing to respond to such a summons can lead to an arrest warrant.

The inquiry opened in January 2025 after complaints from a lawmaker and another official who raised concerns that X’s content selection could amount to foreign interference. French prosecutors are examining allegations that the platform hosted deepfake material, that its algorithm unfairly favored Musk’s views, and potential offenses related to distribution of child pornography.

An executive at xAI, the company that owns X, thanked the Justice Department in a statement for declining the French requests and said the firm hopes French authorities will conclude there was no wrongdoing and end the investigation.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are advancing a plan for a European-led naval presence to reopen and protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz once active hostilities end. The proposal envisions ships from Britain, France and other non-belligerent countries deploying only after fighting stops and focusing on restoring normal commercial traffic.

Macron announced a conference in Paris with multiple countries joining by video to discuss the plan, which he described as a “multilateral and purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation.” Starmer called it a “coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends.” British officials have engaged more than 40 countries in related talks; U.S. representatives were not part of earlier consultations.

European officials involved in planning said the force would act to prevent blockades or tolls that would impede traffic through the strait and would not be intended to intervene in the fighting. A senior European participant said the initiative was not designed to bypass the United States.

The Trump administration has considered using U.S. naval power to block Iranian ports as part of its response to the conflict, a different approach from the proposed European-led mission. Talks on the European plan began early in the conflict and are being finalized with input from multiple governments.