Elon Musk made headlines by hosting a live chat with the frontwoman of Germany’s far-right party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), Alice Weidel. The 74-minute conversation covered a range of topics including energy policy, German bureaucracy, Adolf Hitler, Mars, and the meaning of life. Musk endorsed the AfD, urging Germans to support the party in the forthcoming elections, marking his controversial foray into European politics.
During the interview, Weidel expressed support for US President-elect Donald Trump and emphasized that her party, the AfD, was conservative and libertarian, despite being negatively portrayed by mainstream media as extremist. The AfD has faced scrutiny for its connections to far-right networks, with some party figures classified as right-wing extremists by German authorities.
In a surprising moment, Weidel claimed Hitler was a “communist” and an “antisemitic socialist”, contrary to historical understanding of the Nazi leader. Musk and Weidel also discussed Germany’s bureaucracy, nuclear power policies, tax cuts, and free speech, highlighting their shared views on certain issues.
Despite Musk’s significant investments in Germany, particularly the Tesla plant near Berlin, his support for the AfD has raised concerns among some leaders about misinformation and undue influence in the upcoming elections. As the AfD gains traction in German politics, Musk’s endorsement of Weidel as the “leading candidate to run Germany” has added a new dimension to the country’s political landscape.
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