The most recent development in the ongoing debate between French President Emmanuel Macron and Elon Musk centers around Macron's remarks at an industrial summit in Antwerp on February 11, 2026. Macron criticized Musk as being 'over-subsidised' by the U.S. government, using this as a call for Europe to bolster its own industries through public investment. Macron advocated for a 'Buy European' strategy, suggesting that substantial investments should be financed through joint EU borrowing to compete with economic powers like the U.S. and China. He stated, 'If you look at the US, you have a lot of private money... but you have a lot of public money too,' highlighting the significant public funding Musk's ventures, such as Starlink, have received (Daily Times, Tribune Latest, France24).