Germany, Elon Musk and Scholz
Billionaire Elon Musk, set to join U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's administration as an outside adviser, on Friday called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign in response to a deadly attack at a German Christmas market.
A senior lawmaker from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats railed against Elon Musk’s interference in German politics and called for a new antitrust act to constrain his influence in the corporate world.
Musk has been amplifying right-wing, anti-immigration voices on X for years and has already questioned criticism aimed at the AfD back in June. In September 2023, he denounced Germany for giving money to charities and rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said freedom of opinion "also applies to multi-billionaires," after Elon Musk said that only the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) can 'save' the country.
Elon Musk was blasted by German and U.S. lawmakers for backing a German far-right political party on X, formerly Twitter on Thursday.
Germany’s intelligence agency has monitored the party, known as Alternative for Germany, for suspected extremism.
Musk was roasted on his own social media platform by a political scientist, a fellow billionaire and many others.
Germany's Olaf Scholz has dismissed an assertion by Elon Musk, who said that a far-right party can “save Germany'. Germany is set to vote in an early election in February next year following the collapse of Scholz's three-party governing coalition collapsed last month.
The tech billionaire who has already made a name in American politics offered his endorsement following a deadly German Christmas market attack.
U.S. billionaire Elon Musk said Friday said "only" the far-right Alternative for Germany party, currently running second in German polls with around 19% support nationwide, can "save" the country.
Elon Musk, poised to advise US President-elect Donald Trump, criticised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz following a deadly car attack in Magdeburg. Musk also endorsed Germany's far-right AfD, intensifying political tensions ahead of the February 23 election.