As Germany marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, a leading US Jewish advocate has expressed “deep concern” about the security of American Jews and Jews worldwide, following remarks by Elon Musk to a German far-right party.
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, warned that President Donald Trump’s alignment with “dangerous rightwing extremists” poses a threat to the security of Jews globally. Soifer’s concerns were sparked by a video address by Musk to the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, in which he encouraged Americans to be proud of their culture and values, rather than focusing on the country’s Nazi past.
Soifer noted that Musk’s comments are perceived as attempting to remake the world order in the image of the Trump administration, and criticized his focus on past guilt, suggesting that it is time to move beyond the sins of the past. She also noted that it is unprecedented for a senior adviser to the US president to align with a foreign political party in advance of elections.
Soifer concluded that Musk’s actions are a form of election interference and are extremely dangerous, given the extreme views of many AfD members. She urged opponents of Trump and Musk to continue condemning extremist behavior and language, as words and signaling have dangerous consequences and Trump and his allies are giving a green light to extremists.