German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has strongly condemned Elon Musk’s public endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the country’s general elections in February.
Accusations of Election Interference
Musk, who owns the social media platform X, has voiced his support for the AfD multiple times. Two weeks ago, he declared on the platform, “Only the AfD can save Germany.” In addition, Musk penned an op-ed for the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag in late December, further promoting the AfD.
Last week, German officials accused Musk of interfering in the upcoming elections, scheduled for 23 February. Scholz, addressing these concerns at a press conference on Sunday, stated, “The crucial issue is that Mr. Musk is endorsing a partly right-wing extremist party. This is not only concerning but something I wholly reject.”
Scholz Rejects Attacks and Warns of Media Influence
Scholz has previously dismissed Musk’s personal attacks, including calling him an “incompetent fool” and urging him to resign after the Magdeburg attack on 20 December. However, the chancellor expressed growing concern over Musk’s influence on public opinion through media and algorithms.
“It’s not the first time we’ve faced attacks from wealthy entrepreneurs,” Scholz said. “What’s new is the global reach of a media mogul using algorithm-driven platforms to shape opinions in an organized manner.”
Denial of Alleged Meeting with Putin
Scholz also addressed unrelated rumors about a supposed plan to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He firmly denied the claims, calling them baseless. “That is a false claim. It’s indecent to spread such rumors without evidence. Even honorable people should be outraged by such fabrications,” Scholz stated.
The chancellor’s comments reflect his determination to push back against perceived external interference and misinformation during a critical election period in Germany.
