Elon Musk encourages the German far-right party and sparks (another) wave of outrage

Elon Musk, who seems to enjoy meddling in the electoral processes of various countries and having contributed to Donald Trump’s victory in the United States, has now virtually involved himself during the launch of the election campaign of the AfD (Alternative for Germany), the German far-right party.

The chairman of Israel’s official Holocaust memorial has accused Elon Musk of insulting the victims of Nazism and endangering Germany’s democratic future after the billionaire addressed a rally for Germany’s far-right party.

— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) 2025-01-26T22:07:01.854Z

His statements made on this occasion sparked strong condemnation reactions in Germany and internationally.

In front of a crowd of about 4,500 supporters, Musk made highly criticized remarks, as he was recently accused of performing a “Nazi salute” during Donald Trump’s inauguration.

During his speech, Musk notably harshly criticized multiculturalism, claiming that it diluted German culture and urged far-right supporters to “be proud to be Germans,” comments quickly denounced by several, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and also by family members of Holocaust victims.

German history, profoundly marked by Nazism and the Holocaust, is a sensitive subject that Germans approach with great responsibility, focused on memory and the fight against extremist ideologies.

In this context, outside interventions, even from influential figures like Elon Musk, can be perceived as interference in a matter that remains deeply internal.

The criticisms directed at Musk in this context accuse him of exploiting perceptions and ignorance regarding the depth of the historical context, thereby minimizing the complexity of the issues for divisive political ends. His interventions are seen as seeking to exacerbate tensions.

Many observers believe these issues fall exclusively under the responsibility of the Germans, who are solely capable of managing their past and shaping their future without external influence. In other words, many people in different countries think that Musk should focus on his own affairs rather than meddling in other nations’ politics.

This recent interference by Musk raises questions, especially as he has recently intensified his involvement in various political issues around the world, fueling speculation about his motivations.