Musk To Host German Far-Right Leader On X

Elon Musk will host the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on X on Thursday, stoking concerns in Berlin and Brussels about possible meddling by the U.S. billionaire in campaigning for Germany’s Feb. 23 national election.

Musk last year used X and his vast wealth to help get Republican Donald Trump re-elected U.S. president. Now he is becoming vocal in his support for far-right and anti-establishment parties across Europe.

The world’s richest man has shown particular interest in Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, where he opened Tesla’s first European plant in 2022.

Last month, Musk endorsed the AfD, an anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party labeled as right-wing-extremist by German security services, causing consternation in Berlin. Other German parties have ruled out working with the AfD.

Musk, known for his libertarian views, described German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as a “tyrant” for criticising the AfD and called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign after a deadly car attack on a German Christmas market. Both men belong to the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

Leaders across Europe have expressed alarm over Musk’s political activities. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused Musk of undermining democracy, without directly naming him, while France’s foreign minister urged the EU to use its laws more robustly to guard against outside interference.

That is unlikely to stop the live talk between Musk and the AfD’s chancellor candidate Alice Weidel, an economist fluent in English and Mandarin, from going ahead at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT).

Last August Musk held a similar talk with Trump, who has since tasked the entrepreneur with leading a drive to make U.S. government more efficient.

Musk has defended his right to weigh in on German politics because of his “significant investments”, and has praised the AfD’s approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation.

Reuters/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma