Official announcement from the German Federal Returning Officer or major news outlets

Elon Musk Declares "Only AfD Can Save Germany" on X; Weidel Nominated for Chancellor Amid Protests

Jan 11, 2025, 11:28 AM

Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), hosted a live interview with Alice Weidel, the co-leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. During the conversation, Musk expressed strong support for the AfD, declaring, "Only AfD can save Germany," and urged German voters to back the party in the federal elections scheduled for February 23, 2025. The interview sparked widespread criticism and concern among European Union officials and German politicians, who accused Musk of interfering in Germany's electoral process. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz challenged Musk's endorsement of the AfD, highlighting the party's right-wing extremist views, pro-Russia stance, and intent to weaken transatlantic relations. Following the interview, the AfD, polling at 22%, officially nominated Alice Weidel as their candidate for Chancellor during a party congress in Riesa. During the event, Weidel's car was attacked and blocked by Antifa activists, whom she referred to as "red-painted Nazis." Weidel thanked Musk for his support and reiterated the party's platform, which includes proposals for mass deportations, closing borders, dismantling wind turbines, reactivating nuclear power plants, and abolishing gender studies programs at universities. The CDU/CSU leads the polls at 30%, while the SPD, polling at 14-16%, reaffirmed Olaf Scholz as their candidate, emphasizing the election as a critical moment for Germany's future. Scholz warned that if Germany "takes a wrong turn" on February 23, the country could "wake up in a different nation."