Sergio Mattarella said Italy “can take care” of itself after Mr. Musk criticized judges who did not approve a government request to hold a group of migrants in Albania.

President Sergio Mattarella told Elon Musk on Wednesday not to interfere in Italian affairs after the US billionaire said Rome judges blocking a government anti-immigration initiative should be sent packing.

Italy's president has sharply rebuked Elon Musk. President Sergio Mattarella issued an unusually piqued statement on Wednesday following Musk's weighing in on Italian court rulings that have stymied the government’s plans to process some asylum-seekers in Albania.

Then, on Wednesday, followed up with more criticism of the court rulings. “This is unacceptable," Musk posted. “Do the people of Italy live in a democracy or does an unelected autocracy make the decisions?” Mattarella did not take too kindly to Musk ...

After calling German Chancellor Scholz “a fool,” the mercurial billionaire buddy of President-elect Donald Trump is now angering the Italians.

The Italian prime minister hopes to become the privileged representative in Europe of a new Trump administration, in which the billionaire would have a role.