In early December 2025, a flurry of headlines spread across social media and conservative news outlets claiming that Elon Musk’s social platform X was enjoying “record‑breaking” downloads in Europe after Musk publicly criticized the European Union (EU) following a significant regulatory fine. Supporters cited the surge as evidence of European public backlash against the bloc’s tech rules, while critics questioned whether the data actually supported those claims.

This investigation examines the full picture: what really happened with X’s alleged downloads in Europe, why tensions between X and EU regulators have escalated, and what independent data suggests about the platform’s current user trends across the region.

The Trigger: A Historic EU Fine and Musk’s Response

On December 5, 2025, the European Commission — the EU’s executive arm — imposed a€120 million fine (about $140 million) on X for breaching transparency requirements under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). European regulators said the platform’s redesign of the “verified” blue checkmark, shortcomings in advertising transparency, and lack of research data access violated legally binding rules.

This was the first enforcement action under the DSA against X and marked a major escalation in the EU’s oversight of large social media platforms. Officials said the policies are designed to protect users from deception, misinformation, and abuse — core aims of the DSA.

Musk responded with public outrage. He described the fine as “bulls‑t,” called for the abolition of the European Union, and asserted the bloc was unfairly targeting X in a political fight over free speech.

Shortly after, posts on X and other platforms began circulating claims that the fine had backfired: Europeans were allegedly downloading X in record numbers to show support.

The Claim: Record‑Breaking Downloads in Europe

Social media users and commentators shared screenshots and assertions that X had become the No.1 most downloaded app in EU countries, implying European users were embracing the platform despite—or because of—the EU’s enforcement action.

But the underlying data tells a more nuanced story.

Is There Evidence of a Massive Download Surge?

Independent app‑tracking data does not clearly support the idea of a sudden, across‑the‑board surge that made X the overall top app on European app stores. According to fact‑checkers reviewing available download rankings:

some EU countries, X appears near the top of the news category on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, but this does not necessarily translate to overall top downloads.

In major markets like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland, X did not consistently rank as the most downloaded app overall in general categories.

In other words, localized or category‑specific increases do not equate to a verified “record‑breaking” surge in downloads across the entire European Union.

What Do the Public Rankings Show?

App ranking systems (both Apple App Store and Google Play) often display volatile short‑term movements that can look dramatic in isolation — for example, a jump in news‑related categories on weekends or in response to trending events. However:

X was not the #1 free app in major EU markets overall.

Other platforms like TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, and AI‑centric apps continued to dominate overall download charts.

This suggests that the “record‑breaking” narrative was likely amplified by ideological commentary rather than grounded in verified, comprehensive market‑wide data.

The Broader Context: X’s User Base in Europe

Another essential piece of the puzzle is longer‑term trends in X’s European usage — which don’t necessarily align with the idea of a renewed renaissance in popularity.

Loss of Users in Recent Months

Available reports based on internal transparency data indicate that X’s monthly active users in the EU have declined, not increased. According to a recent transparency report, X had about 94.8 million monthly active users in the EU — down from just over 105 million in the report covering the previous six months. This represents a drop of roughly 10.5%, with notable declines in France, Poland, Germany, and Spain.

In several cases, the platform lost millions of users — a far different trajectory than the one implied by the “record‑breaking downloads” narrative.

Why the Decline Matters

The decline highlights ongoing challenges for X in Europe, including:

Regulatory pressure under the DSA, requiring greater transparency and compliance.

Competitive alternatives with stricter moderation policies or features more tailored to local markets.

User dissatisfaction with content moderation shifts and perceived misinformation levels.

This context suggests that even if short‑term spikes in downloads occurred in specific categories — potentially tied to a backlash narrative — they do not reflect a sustained rebound in European engagement.

What’s Really Happening on X in Europe?

Regulatory Friction and Technical Disputes

Europe’s enforcement of the DSA reflects a broader shift toward stronger oversight of large digital platforms. The DSA aims to reduce user risk by discouraging deceptive interfaces and increasing transparency around advertising and algorithmic governance — goals officials argue protect citizens in an age of digital misinformation.

X’s decision to terminate the European Commission’s advertising account in retaliation for the fine — accusing Brussels of exploiting a technical bug — further illustrates the strained relations between the company and EU regulators.

This dispute is symptomatic of larger tensions around data protection, platform accountability, and political influence in online speech.

Musk’s Broader Pushback

Musk’s vocal criticism of the EU — including calls to abolish the union — is part of a strategy of positioning X as a champion of unrestricted speech, particularly against regulatory frameworks perceived as restrictive. However, EU officials argue their actions are not about censorship but enforcing legal standards for transparency and public safety.

The narrative that Europeans are flocking to X in response reflects a political interpretation rather than a data‑driven, continent‑wide consumer trend.

Fact vs. Narrative: Disentangling Claims from Evidence

“Record‑breaking downloads”

While X may have seen increased interest in specific app categories or short‑term ranking bumps, there is no verified evidence that it achieved consistent, continent‑wide number‑one status across both major app stores. The claim appears to be amplified commentary, not an independently verified market fact.

User base trends

The broader trend in Europe has been declining user numbers, not exponential growth. Transparency data suggests an overall reduction in monthly active accounts, contradicting the idea that the fine sparked a mass migration toward the platform.

Downloads do not equal engagement

Even if downloads increased in some markets or categories, downloads alone do not indicate sustained engagement or growth in active users — particularly given ongoing regulatory pressures and evolving platform dynamics.

Conclusion: A Story Shaped by Politics, Not Pure Data

The claim that X is receiving “record‑breaking” downloads in Europe after calling out the European Union is rooted more in political commentary than in comprehensive empirical evidence.

While short‑term spikes in ranking can occur — and individual app categories might show temporary surges — the broader market data and transparency reports show that:

X’s overall user base in the EU has declined in recent reporting periods.

There is no independent verification that X currently leads overall download charts across major European markets.

The regulatory conflict with the EU is genuine, but the narrative of European mass support for X is overstated relative to the available metrics.

In a highly charged media environment, it’s crucial to distinguish between political narratives and sustained factual trends — especially when claims involve large platforms, regulatory frameworks, and public opinion.