Many were surprised when Elon Musk appeared at a campaign event for Germany’s far-right AfD party in Halle, eastern Germany, on Saturday, speaking live via video link to the 4,500 attendees. He has apparently endorsed the ideals of the party, aiming to preserve German culture and value.
“It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said, supporting the party’s opposition to immigration and multiculturalism. The billionaire tech mogul also said that “children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,” a statement many saw as an attempt to minimize Germany’s Nazi past.
🚨🇩🇪 ELON MUSK: IT’S OK TO BE PROUD TO BE GERMAN!
Millions of Germans had to hear this message.
Germany has
Goethe, Schiller,
Einstein, Planck,
Nietzsche, Kant
Beethoven, Bach…We defeated National Socialism and Communism.
Let’s do it again.Only the AfD WILL save Germany. pic.twitter.com/3KtZoSyKvP
— Naomi Seibt (@SeibtNaomi) January 25, 2025
Musk’s comments have created intense controversy as just last week he drew intense criticism after a gesture at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities that some decried as similar to a Nazi salute. His words about historical German guilt and free speech further polarized public opinion.
Musk, an outspoken critic of government censorship, also attacked the German government’s stance on freedom of speech, criticizing Chancellor Olaf Scholz for not supporting speech deemed extreme-right. “I’m very excited for the AfD, I think you’re really the best hope for Germany. fight for a great future for Germany,” Musk declared.
AfD party leader Alice Weidel thanked Musk and drew parallels between the party’s goals and Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. Musk’s support has drawn criticism, especially from anti-far-right groups, but it has also fuelled concerns about foreign influence on German politics.
Anti-far-right demonstrators responded by holding large rallies. In Berlin, 100,000 people gathered, and up to 20,000 in Cologne showed the nation’s opposition to the far-right movement.
