Elon Musk, a close adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has stirred controversy by defending his right to comment on Germany’s political landscape, citing his “significant investments” in the country’s economy.
“The traditional parties have failed in Germany,” Musk stated, adding that the Alternative for Germany (AfD)—often labeled far-right—represents a “political realism” that appeals to many Germans who feel overlooked by the political establishment.
Musk pushed back against characterizing the AfD as far-right, pointing to Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, who has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka. “Does that sound like Hitler to you? Come on!” Musk wrote, doubling down on his assertion.
His public endorsement of the AfD, ahead of Germany’s snap elections on February 23, has sparked significant backlash. The elections are anticipated to be won by a conservative alliance, with Friedrich Merz expected to succeed Olaf Scholz as chancellor.
Shortly after Musk’s commentary appeared in Welt am Sonntag on Saturday, Eva Marie Kogel, the paper’s opinion editor, announced her resignation via a post on X (formerly Twitter). She linked to Musk’s op-ed, writing, “Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print.”
The incident has added fuel to the political discourse in Germany, amplifying debate over the influence of international figures on national politics and the broader implications of Musk’s controversial remarks.













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