Elon Musk is hosting a live interview with Alice Weidel, the chancellor candidate for Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on his social media platform X, which has raised alarms and threats of legal consequences among Germany’s political class. The AfD has risen to the second position in German national polls, backed by about a fifth of the electorate, but has been denied legitimacy and publicity in German public life due to its anti-immigrant and extreme language.
The party has made forays into language and actions deemed extreme by German leaders, and is under observation by domestic intelligence. Many German parties refuse to work with the AfD, and Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged all parties to unite against it.
Enter Elon Musk, who controls X and has become a close confidant of President-elect Donald Trump. He has begun promoting far-right candidates and parties across Europe, and has reposted a video from a German conservative social media star who is close to the AfD. He has also written an opinion piece in the German newspaper Die Welt expounding on his support for the party, which he calls the “last spark of hope” for Germany.
Musk’s support has been welcomed by Weidel, who has responded to his tweet saying “You are perfectly right, @elonmusk!” The event on X has raised concerns among German leaders, who have criticized Musk’s efforts to sway German voters. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed Musk’s influence, saying “I do not believe in courting Mr. Musk’s favor.”
Despite the controversy, Musk’s efforts appear to be helping the AfD in the upcoming election. A majority of respondents to a German broadcaster’s poll believe that Musk’s efforts will help the AfD, although three quarters of respondents believe it is inappropriate for Musk to comment on German politics. The European Commission has announced that it will examine Musk’s interference in European politics, and center-left parties have urged Brussels to use “all the legal means available” to protect democracy against misinformation and foreign interference on social media.