Elon Musk has sparked another wave of controversy after expressing his support for the far-right German political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has been accused of neo-Nazi views. The backlash came as Germany prepares for elections in February 2024.
Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, shared a post on his social media platform X, saying, “Only the AfD can save Germany.” This comment quickly drew strong criticism from U.S. politicians and leaders in Germany.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) condemned Musk’s endorsement, posting on X, “The out of touch billionaire running the incoming Trump Administration announced last night that he enthusiastically supports the neo-Nazi party in Germany.”
“WTF,” Murphy added. “NONE OF THIS IS OK, EVERYONE. NONE OF THIS IS NORMAL.”
Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a frequent critic of Trump, also blasted Musk, calling him a “drug-addled billionaire” who “thinks he runs the world.” Kinzinger further pointed out that the AfD is “literally a neo-Nazi party.”
Musk’s endorsement came as the AfD is gaining traction in Germany, with the party polling in second place ahead of the elections. The party’s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, welcomed Musk’s support, praising his comment. Weidel criticized former Chancellor Angela Merkel and the European Union, calling them destructive to Germany’s economy and culture.
However, Musk’s support of the AfD has raised concerns. AfD leader Björn Höcke has been widely criticized for downplaying Nazi crimes, and he once called Germany’s Holocaust memorial a “monument of shame.” The party has also faced scrutiny for ties to extremist groups, with police recently arresting several members for allegedly planning an armed uprising.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to Musk’s comments, saying that freedom of speech allows people to express harmful or misguided opinions.
