dirty tricks

Russia and Iran have both been named by French intelligence as countries liable to provoke dissension in France through "dirty tricks".

In response, Ukraine said that Russia was playing "dirty tricks" and manipulating the facts.

However, Musk himself has mocked the comparisons, stating on X: “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”

Critics, including some historians, said it was a Nazi salute - Mr Musk has dismissed that, saying comparisons with Hitler were "tired" and "dirty tricks."

After one account on X called the uproar a “hoax” and part of what Musk himself had once called a “dirty tricks campaign” against him by liberals, Musk reposted the comment.