Musk Backs AfD Party in German Newspaper Opinion Piece; Commentary Editor Resigns in Protest
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has publicly endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in an opinion piece published in a prominent German newspaper, prompting the paper’s commentary editor to resign in protest.
Musk’s article, which was published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), praises the AfD for its welfare-state scepticism and its campaign against the European Union’s “endo-colonial” policies. The op-ed also criticizes the German government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy, describing it as “incomprehensible” and “dysfunctional”.
The commentary editor of the FAZ, Jürgen Kaube, has since resigned from his position, citing concerns over the newspaper’s decision to publish Musk’s article. Kaube stated that the piece was “not up to our editorial standards” and that he could not “recommend it to our readers”.
Musk’s endorsement of the AfD party has been met with widespread criticism, with many politicians and experts condemning his actions as “alarming” and “profoundly misguided”. The AfD has been accused of promoting anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment, and has been associated with far-right extremism.
Musk’s decision to back the AfD has raised concerns over his views on politics and his classification as a far-right figure. Despite his business acumen, Musk has faced criticism for his political statements in the past, and his association with the AfD has been seen as a step too far by many.