A surprise meeting between French President Macron and Elon Musk happened Friday in New Orleans. On the agenda was a “clear and honest discussion” about Twitter. Just days ago, a top European Union official warned that Musk must do more to protect users from harmful content.
Macron and his wife arrived in Louisiana, the state most closely aligned historically with France, for a visit after their trip to Washington, D.C. They were in Louisiana to celebrate cultural ties and discuss energy policy – and climate – with state officials, including Governor John Bel Edwards. His was the first visit by a French president since 1976 when Valery Giscard d’Estaing visited Lafayette and New Orleans. Charles de Gaulle visited Louisiana in 1960.
The meeting with Musk occurred Friday evening, which might have coincided with the release of the Twitter files. Musk is a busy man. Macron tweeted confirmation that the two met.
On Friday evening Macron posted a photo on Twitter of his encounter with Musk, the two men sitting across from each other at a table in an empty room. He said he and the Tesla CEO discussed “future green industrial projects,” and also the social media platform.
“Transparent user policies, significant reinforcement of content moderation and protection of freedom of speech: efforts have to be made by Twitter to comply with European regulations,” the president said in one of a series of tweets.
I’ll say it here, on Twitter, because it’s all about the blue bird. This afternoon I met with @elonmusk and we had a clear and honest discussion:
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 2, 2022
Elon Musk confirmed the Twitter’s participation to the Christchurch Call. There is no place for terrorist and violent extremist content anywhere.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 2, 2022
We will work with Twitter to improve online child protection. Elon Musk confirmed it to me today. Let’s better protect our children online !
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 2, 2022
Earlier last week, the EU’s commissioner for digital policy, Thierry Breton, told Musk that Twitter must increase its efforts to comply with new rules known as the Digital Services Act. That act takes effect next year. If Twitter doesn’t comply, there may be heavy fines or even a ban by the EU.
Read Related Also: Expert reveals sneaky psychological hack that will reveal whether someone secretly hates you
Climate was a big part of what Macron spoke about with Governor Edwards, because, of course it was. He found a friend in the governor when it comes to climate policies.
Edwards, a Democrat, has been outspoken about the perils of climate change in a state where tens of thousands of jobs are tied to the oil and gas industry. This makes the stop to New Orleans “very emblematic” of climate-related efforts, French officials said.
During a brief meeting in the presence of Macron, the governor and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, signed a memorandum of understanding “to further expand and enhance the strong cultural connections between France and Louisiana in the areas of the economy, clean energy and the environment,” Edwards’ office said.
“Like me, President Macron believes that climate change is real,” Edwards said.
The governor’s office said the agreement formally creates a Louisiana-based position for a French technical expert on the transition to clean energy.
La de da, Governor. Most people understand climate change but people with common sense understand that extremist measures to combat what are often cyclical weather events are impossible and a huge grift by people living large off of alarmism and pushing a virtue-signaling agenda that is not reality-based. Progressive extremists who don’t care about tanking the U.S. economy or who don’t connect the dots between fossil fuels and electricity don’t deserve to be in charge of energy policy.
Why does Louisiana needs a French “technical expert” to help transition to clean energy? Since when? American technology and fossil fuel industry knowledge leads the world in energy production. Other countries come to U.S. experts for assistance. Good Lord. Sleepy Joe was all in with Macron, too. He and Macron released a joint statement on Thursday expressing “their deep concern regarding the growing impact of climate change and nature loss” and said they “intend to continue to galvanize domestic and global action to address it.” That ought to do it.
Anyway, Macron received a warm welcome by the people of New Orleans as he strolled the French Quarter with Mayor Cantrell and other officials.
Macron told Edwards he was overcome by the reception in the city.
“What I think this signifies is a special relationship we have with France. It is historical and cultural,” Edwards said.
What was Biden doing while this visit to New Orleans by a foreign leader was happening? Oh yeah. He was in Boston doing some phone banking and fetching coffee with union volunteers for the Warnock campaign. He wasn’t invited to Georgia or Louisiana, apparently. The hyper-partisan president who claims to be all about unity was busy declaring Herschel Walker doesn’t “deserve” to be a senator. I think that’s up to the voters in Georgia, Mr. President.
