Elon Musk Endorses Germany's Far-Right AfD, Polling at 20%, Ahead of February 23 Election

Jan 2, 2025, 09:22 AM

Elon Musk has sparked controversy in Germany by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is currently polling at 20%, ahead of the country's snap election on February 23. Musk's support for the AfD was expressed in an opinion piece published in the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, where he described the party as the 'last spark of hope' for Germany. The endorsement has drawn sharp criticism from German political leaders, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who accused Musk of attempting to influence the election. Musk's comments have also led to the resignation of Welt am Sonntag's opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, in protest. The German government has accused Musk of trying to sway the federal election, while Musk has further escalated tensions by insulting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on his social media platform X, calling him an 'anti-democratic tyrant.' Musk's involvement in German politics has raised concerns about potential interference from the incoming US administration, given his ties to President-elect Donald Trump. Musk is also planning a live discussion with AfD leader Alice Weidel on his platform X before the election.