Overview
- French Senator Claude Malhuret delivered a sharp critique of Donald Trump and Elon Musk during a Senate debate on Ukraine on March 5, 2025.
- Malhuret described Washington as 'Nero's court,' with Trump as an 'incendiary emperor' and Musk as a 'buffoon under ketamine' managing public sector purges.
- The speech, translated and widely shared by American outlets like CNN and The Atlantic, has gained significant traction in the U.S. and Europe.
- Malhuret's comments highlight concerns over recent U.S. diplomatic reversals on Ukraine and strained relations with allied nations such as Canada and Mexico.
- The senator emphasized his freedom to speak out without fear of reprisal, contrasting his position in a democracy with the authoritarian tendencies he criticized.