Germany accuses Elon Musk of attempting to intervene in its nationwide elections

German authorities officers accused Tesla founder Elon Musk on Monday of trying to intervene within the nation’s upcoming parliamentary elections on behalf of the nation’s far-right political social gathering, citing current social media posts and a weekend op-ed doubling down on his endorsement.

Musk has tried to invoice the German Different for Germany (AfD) political social gathering because the social gathering finest positioned to usher in a fiscally accountable financial system in Germany—praising the social gathering’s method to rules and taxes, whereas additionally strenuously defending in opposition to allegations of radicalism and neo-Nazi ties.  

His feedback have sparked the ire of prime German authorities officers, who famous Monday that the timing comes simply weeks forward of Germany’s snap parliamentary elections—and are, of their view, clearly supposed to affect a German viewers, no matter whether or not Musk’s messaging accomplishes that purpose. 

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(Co-leader of German far-right social gathering AfD Alice Weidel attends an AfD election marketing campaign in entrance of the cathedral in Magdeburg, Germany, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photograph/Ebrahim Noroozi))

“It’s certainly the case that Elon Musk is attempting to affect the federal election,” German authorities spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann instructed reporters at a press briefing Monday. 

Hoffmann mentioned that Musk is free to precise his opinion, including: “In spite of everything, freedom of opinion additionally covers the best nonsense.”

Musk has come underneath sharp criticism for his obvious endorsement for the Different for Germany political social gathering simply weeks earlier than it holds snap parliamentary elections in February.

Musk has railed in opposition to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this fall as a “idiot.” 

Musk additionally praised the AfD final week on his social media platform, X, writing: “Solely the AfD can save Germany.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on Capitol Hill.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty)

Musk doubled down on his endorsement in an op-ed revealed within the German center-right newspaper, Welt am Sonntag.

“The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, contemplating that Alice Weidel, the social gathering’s chief, has a same-sex associate from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk mentioned of AfD co-chair Alice Weidel.

He added that in his view, the AfD “can lead the nation right into a future the place financial prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation will not be simply needs, however actuality.”

These remarks have sparked criticism from present and former U.S. lawmakers, and from leaders in Berlin, who famous the social gathering’s repute as a neo-Nazi group. 

German well being minister Karl Lauterbach, additionally a member of the Social Democratic social gathering (SPD), criticized Musk’s intervention as “undignified and extremely problematic.”

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Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Donald Trump speaks throughout a gathering with Home Republicans on the Hyatt Regency resort in Washington, D.C. (Allison Robbert/AFP/through Getty Photographs)

All mainstream German political events have dominated out working with the AfD, and its youth wing was designated as a “confirmed extremist” group by Germany’s home intelligence company earlier this 12 months. 

The AfD, for its half, has rejected that characterization.

The pushback from U.S. and German officers has accomplished little to discourage Musk, who used his op-ed to argue that the German financial system is crippled by regulatory overreach and forms, describing the Different for Germany (AfD) as “the final spark of hope for this nation.”

“The standard events have failed in Germany,” Musk wrote within the op-ed of Germany’s SPD and different mainstream events. “Their insurance policies have led to financial stagnation, social unrest, and the erosion of nationwide id.”

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The choice to run Musks’s op-ed in a center-right newspaper was closely criticized and prompted Welt am Sonntag’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, to announce her resignation.