{"slug": "asml-staff-threaten-boycott-over-elon-musk-invitation", "title": "ASML staff threaten boycott over Elon Musk invitation", "summary": "Staff at ASML, one of Europe’s most valuable chip machinery makers, are threatening to boycott an internal company conference after it invited Elon Musk to deliver a keynote address via video link. Employees on the company’s internal platform criticized Musk’s political activity, anti-European rhetoric, comments on transgender people, and what they called his “Nazi sympathies,” with some vowing to skip the event. ASML confirmed the internal debate but defended the invitation, citing Musk’s plans for a chip “megafactory” in Texas that would require the company’s advanced machines.", "body_md": "# ASML staff threaten boycott over Elon Musk invitation\n\nSee more DutchNews articles in your Google search results\n\nSee more DutchNews articles in your Google search results\n\n[Add as a favourite source on Google Add DutchNews as a favourite source on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=dutchnews.nl)\n\nStaff at chip machinery maker ASML are threatening to boycott a company conference after it invited Elon Musk to give a keynote address at the event, newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad has reported.\n\nASML, one of Europe’s most valuable corporations, is holding an internal conference in Den Bosch on Thursday. News that Musk would be invited spread on Saturday and prompted a backlash amongst the company’s staff.\n\nThe Tesla and SpaceX boss is due to appear by video link, in conversation with ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet. They will discuss AI, robotics, space travel and chip manufacturing.\n\nThe company said Musk had been invited in connection with his plan to build a chip “megafactory”, dubbed Terafab, in Texas – a project for which he would need ASML’s advanced machines. US chipmaker Intel, an ASML customer, is also involved.\n\n**“Nazi sympathies” **\n\nA wave of critical messages spread on Viva Engage, ASML’s internal communication platform, with staff arguing the company should not give Musk a platform because of his politics. Some said they would boycott the event, or at least Musk’s appearance.\n\nStaff pointed to Musk’s political activity in the US, his anti-European rhetoric, his comments about transgender people and what they described as his “Nazi sympathies,” according to the paper.\n\nAn Amsterdam court banned Musk’s [Grok “undressing” app](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/03/dutch-ban-elon-musks-grok-undressing-app-over-abusive-images/) over abusive images in March this year.\n\nASML confirmed there was internal discussion about Musk’s appearance but said staff were free to express their views. It described the exchange on Viva Engage as a balanced one and said it was committed to a workplace where everyone felt respected.\n\nASML, which is based in Veldhoven near Eindhoven, recently [won approval](https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/03/asml-gets-green-light-for-new-campus-creating-20000-jobs/) for a campus expansion expected to create 20,000 jobs in the region.\n\n###### Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.\n\nWe could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.\n\n[Make a donation](/donate-to-dutchnews-nl)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/asml-staff-threaten-boycott-over-elon-musk-invitation", "canonical_source": "https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/06/asml-staff-threaten-boycott-over-elon-musk-invitation/", "published_at": "2026-06-06 16:01:52+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-06 16:21:55.390249+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-ethics", "ai-policy", "ai-chips", "ai-infrastructure", "robotics"], "entities": ["ASML", "Elon Musk", "Christophe Fouquet", "Eindhovens Dagblad", "Tesla", "SpaceX", "Intel", "Terafab"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/asml-staff-threaten-boycott-over-elon-musk-invitation", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/asml-staff-threaten-boycott-over-elon-musk-invitation.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/asml-staff-threaten-boycott-over-elon-musk-invitation.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/asml-staff-threaten-boycott-over-elon-musk-invitation.jsonld"}}