Trump's DOJ vows it 'will not tolerate' EU regulatory overreach as it joins Musk's fight against €120m X fine

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026 · last updated 26 September 2026.

The US Department of Justice has formally applied to the EU's General Court to participate in Elon Musk's lawsuit contesting a €120m European Commission fine imposed on X over its blue-tick verification system. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate accused Brussels of "inappropriately" attempting to extend its regulatory reach over American companies "not present or operating within its jurisdiction." The EU vowed to defend its position, while the Commission had originally ruled that X deceived users by selling verified checkmarks without meaningfully confirming account identities. The DOJ's move marks a sharp escalation in transatlantic tech tensions under the Trump administration.

The €120m fine, issued in December 2025, was the first sanction ever handed down under the EU's Digital Services Act — the bloc's landmark online content law.

Shumate warned the US "will not tolerate" Brussels engaging in "regulatory overreach to try and control American engines of innovation and economic growth."