WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, took to his social media platform, X, to livestream a conversation with a leader of Germany’s far-right party on Thursday. This action has sparked concerns in Europe about the world’s wealthiest individual potentially influencing foreign politics. Musk, who previously supported Donald Trump’s reelection in the United States, endorsed Alice Weidel, a co-leader of the Alternative for Germany party and its candidate for chancellor, urging people to vote for AfD. Over 190,000 X accounts tuned in to the discussion.
During the chat, Musk and Weidel criticized Germany’s high taxes, immigration policies, and the decision to close nuclear power plants. The AfD, under scrutiny by Germany’s intelligence agency for suspected extremism, has faced isolation from mainstream political parties. Musk and Weidel stressed the importance of free speech, with Weidel distancing the AfD from any association with Germany’s Nazi past.
Musk has previously voiced support for AfD and criticized Germany’s current leadership under Chancellor Olaf Scholz. His political interventions have sparked alarm across Europe, including demands for the release of U.K. extremist Tommy Robinson and disparaging remarks towards British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Concerns have also arisen in Poland regarding Musk’s potential interference in the upcoming presidential election.
The interaction between Musk and Weidel has drawn the attention of European Commission watchdogs, who are scrutinizing X for potential violations of the Digital Services Act, aimed at regulating online platforms to combat illegal content and misinformation. The commission’s probe into X’s compliance has highlighted issues with verification badges, transparency, and accountability.
Despite the AfD’s growing popularity in Germany, mainstream conservative parties remain dominant in polls leading up to the national election. The Christian Democrats are favored to win, with the AfD trailing as the second-most popular party. As the far-right gains traction amid a weakening taboo in Europe, Musk’s involvement in political affairs is being closely monitored for potential repercussions.
Established in 2013, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has steadily shifted towards the right. Initially focusing on opposing bailouts for struggling eurozone members, the party gained significant traction with its strong opposition to then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to accept a large influx of refugees and migrants in 2015.
AfD’s rise in support can be attributed to widespread dissatisfaction with center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition government. The party’s increasing popularity also mirrors a growing discontent with Germany’s relationship with the European Union and NATO, as well as its close ties with the United States, which some view as undermining national sovereignty.
Contributing to this report from London, AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan.
