Elon Musk recently made headlines by suggesting support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in an upcoming election during a conversation with its leader on his social media platform. This highlights Musk’s growing interest in influencing European politics. In a wide-ranging discussion that covered topics such as immigration, German bureaucracy, energy policy, space colonization, religion, and historical figures, Musk and AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel found common ground in advocating for the AfD as a solution to Germany’s challenges. Musk emphasized the need for people to support the AfD, praising Weidel as a reasonable person without proposing anything extreme.
While Musk’s endorsement of the AfD, labeled as right-wing-extremist by German security services, has stirred controversy and concern in Berlin, the party still faces challenges in forming a government due to the reluctance of other parties to collaborate with it. Critics fear that Musk’s backing could boost the AfD’s popularity, weakening mainstream parties’ positions in forming coalitions.
Musk’s involvement in European politics follows his support for Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election and reflects his growing vocal support for far-right and anti-establishment parties. Weidel expressed gratitude for Musk’s support, highlighting the platform he provided for her to share her views without media bias.
During the conversation, Musk and Weidel criticized Germany’s nuclear power exit and immigration policies, emphasizing the need for change. They also discussed abstract topics, with Weidel asserting that the AfD is a conservative libertarian party and distancing it from comparisons to Hitler’s Nazis. Musk defended his intervention in German politics based on his investments in the country, particularly Tesla’s European plant, and praised the AfD’s stance on regulation and market deregulation.
The conversation touched on bureaucratic challenges faced by Tesla in Germany and drew parallels with a previous discussion Musk had with Trump. Weidel invited Musk to share his views on peace in Ukraine, colonization of Mars, and the concept of God. While Musk was forthcoming on the latter two topics, he refrained from commenting on Ukraine peace efforts, indicating it was a complex matter.
Elon Musk has expressed his support for Germany’s renewable energy goals while also voicing concerns about the country’s decision to shut down nuclear power plants. In a discussion with AfD (Alternative for Germany) leader Alice Weidel, Musk criticized Germany’s move to close power plants following disruptions in gas supplies from Russia, calling it “one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.”
The tech billionaire’s involvement in political matters has raised alarm among European leaders, prompting calls for the EU to enforce its laws more effectively to protect democracies from external influences. The European Commission has announced that it will examine the conversation between Musk and AfD, as part of an ongoing investigation into potential violations of the Digital Services Act. This scrutiny is focused on whether certain content received preferential treatment.
Furthermore, Musk’s interview with the far-right AfD leader has prompted discussions on how it aligns with EU laws. Simultaneously, there has been a growing interest in an influencer who has Musk’s attention within Germany’s far-right circles.
The article, initially published by USA TODAY, features reporting by Sarah Marsh, Thomas Escritt, and Matthias Williams in Berlin, with additional contributions from Andreas Rinke and Friederike Heine in Berlin, and Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels. The editing was handled by Gareth Jones and Matthew Lewis.
