Photo illustration for the X interview between Elon Musk and German far-right leader Alice Weidel, the X logo can be seen on a gadget screen with Elon Musk’s face.
Credit: Shutterstock, Kemarrravv13
Elon Musk has stirred the political pot yet again in Germany. On Thursday, January 9, the world’s richest man hosted a live chat on his platform X with Alice Weidel, the frontwoman of Germany’s ‘far-right’ Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). The 74-minute conversation was a heady mix of energy policy, German bureaucracy, Adolf Hitler, Mars, and even the meaning of life.
But the big headline? Musk didn’t just chat about political matters – he urged German voters to back the AfD in next month’s national elections. His endorsement of the controversial party is yet another move in his growing involvement in European politics.
Musk ‘meddles’ in Germany’s snap election
There’s no sugarcoating it: Musk’s comments have raised eyebrows. The billionaire, who has a significant stake in Germany thanks to his Tesla plant in Berlin, has been accused of meddling in the country’s upcoming election. The interview, conducted in English, was an opportunity for the AfD to reach an international audience, with more than 190,000 viewers tuning in to Musk’s X broadcast.
Weidel, the AfD’s candidate for chancellor, echoed Musk’s rhetoric, calling Germany’s current leadership ‘incompetent’ and ‘overrun with bureaucracy.’ Both Musk and Weidel agreed on the dire state of the nation, blaming ‘crazy’ energy policies and unchecked immigration. Musk even suggested that only AfD could put things right.
Hitler, “communist”? Weidel’s wild claims
But the conversation took a bizarre turn when Weidel labelled Adolf Hitler a “communist,” despite the fact that the Nazi leader invaded the Soviet Union and pushed an extreme anti-communist agenda. According to Weidel, Hitler wasn’t a ‘conservative’ or ‘libertarian,’ but rather an ‘antisemitic socialist.’
The comments raised alarms, especially considering the AfD has already faced scrutiny for links to far-right extremism. German authorities have officially classified sections of the party as extremist and a BBC investigation in 2024 uncovered alleged connections to neo-Nazi groups. Musk has previously defended the party by pointing out that the AfD cannot be neo-nazi sympathising or far-right, since its leader Alice Weidel is in a gay relationship with a Swiss partner of Sri Lankan origin.
Musk’s ‘far-right’ fascination
Musk’s support for the AfD isn’t exactly new. The billionaire has been vocal about his admiration for far-right parties across Europe, particularly in Germany, where his Tesla plant has become a symbol of his growing influence. He has previously praised the AfD and criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling him a “fool.”
Despite the controversy, Musk seems to believe his intervention is justified. He pointed to his business investments as a reason for taking a stand, claiming that his stakes in the country give him a vested interest in its political future.
Germany’s February election showdown
With Germany’s federal election just around the corner, Musk’s endorsement of the AfD will no doubt add fuel to the fire. The party, which opposes Berlin’s support for Ukraine, is polling second, but it’s unlikely to secure power, as other parties have currently ruled out working with them.
Nevertheless, Musk’s claim that Weidel is ‘the leading candidate to run Germany’ has turned heads, and his controversial comments are unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon. Whether or not Musk’s political interference will have a lasting impact on Germany’s future remains to be seen, but regardless, this billionaire knows how to make headlines.
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