Elon Musk, the billionaire technology entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla based in the United States, has attracted significant attention in Germany due to his endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
His support, articulated in a guest opinion article for the German publication Welt am Sonntag, has elicited strong backlash from German political figures and ignited debate within media outlets.
As Germany prepares for snap elections on February 23, following the dissolution of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, Musk’s engagement has prompted concerns regarding foreign interference in the democratic processes of the European nation.
Elon Musk’s support for the AfD is rooted in his conviction that the party’s policies resonate with his aspirations for economic reform and technological progress. In a guest commentary published in German, Musk asserted, “Only the AfD can save Germany,” while defending the party against claims of extremism.
He emphasized the AfD’s dedication to economic deregulation, tax reforms, and the preservation of Germany’s cultural identity. Musk argued, “The characterization of the AfD as a right-wing extremist group is evidently inaccurate, especially considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that evoke Hitler in any way? I think not!”
