Public statements by Elon Musk or official retraction through media outlets

Elon Musk Calls AfD 'Germany's Last Spark of Hope' in Welt am Sonntag Op-Ed, Prompting Editor Eva Marie Kogel's Resignation

Dec 29, 2024, 01:04 AM

Elon Musk has sparked controversy in Germany after writing an opinion piece in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, part of the Axel Springer group, expressing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In the article, published less than two months before Germany's federal elections scheduled for February 23, Musk called the AfD "Germany's last spark of hope" and defended the party against accusations of extremism. "The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka!" Musk wrote. The publication of the article prompted the resignation of the newspaper's commentary editor, Eva Marie Kogel, who opposed giving Musk a platform to endorse the AfD. German politicians, including Friedrich Merz and SPD General Secretary Miersch, have criticized Musk's intervention, accusing him of unwarranted interference in the country's elections.