The tech billionaire has been criticized for repeatedly endorsing the AFD
Elon Musk made a virtual appearance at a rally for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday, reiterating his support ahead of the country’s Feb. 23 election. He told the crowd it was time to “move on” from “past guilt,” referencing Germany’s historical context.
Joined by AfD leader Alice Weidel, Musk described the party as the “best hope for Germany” and emphasized the importance of preserving German culture and protecting the German people. He argued, “Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,” seemingly alluding to the nation’s Nazi past.
“It’s good to be proud of German culture and values and not lose them to multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk added, earning cheers from the crowd of around 4,500.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk reacted strongly, calling Musk’s speech “ominous” given its proximity to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. He highlighted the unsettling parallels between the rally’s language about “Great Germany” and efforts to dismiss Nazi-era guilt.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also voiced concern, expressing regret that Musk’s comments came so close to the Auschwitz anniversary, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker questioned why former President Trump had not condemned Musk’s remarks.
Musk’s initial endorsement of the AfD last month sparked backlash, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who warned that the billionaire’s support could endanger European democracy. Musk has also backed other far-right European leaders, like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and UK’s Nigel Farage (though he later distanced himself from Farage).
The billionaire entrepreneur has been heavily involved in U.S. politics, including spending more than $250 million in the 2024 election cycle to support Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, which secured him a key position in Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk stirred further controversy during Trump’s inauguration celebrations, when he made a stiff-armed gesture that critics likened to the Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute. Musk dismissed the comparison, accusing “radical leftists” of trying to label him a Nazi and posting Nazi-themed jokes online.
Earlier this month, Musk and Weidel held a wide-ranging discussion on Musk’s X platform, touching on topics from Martians to Adolf Hitler. Weidel, who is running for chancellor, dismissed the AfD’s Nazi connections, calling Hitler a “communist socialist” and insisting that the AfD was the opposite. At the rally on Saturday, Weidel thanked Musk for his backing, adding, “Make Germany great again!”