Elon Musk Faces Backlash Over Support for Germany's Far-Right AfD Party

German leaders criticize Musk's political interference and inflammatory remarks ahead of February's Bundestag elections.

Elon Musk has publicly endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, calling it the nation's 'last spark of hope' in a guest piece for Die Welt and posts on his platform X.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck condemned Musk's involvement, emphasizing that Germany's future should be decided by its citizens, not social media owners.
Musk escalated tensions by calling German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier an 'anti-democratic tyrant' after Steinmeier warned of foreign influence in elections, specifically citing Musk's platform X.
The AfD has confirmed ongoing contact between its leadership and Musk's team, with discussions reportedly underway for a live audio event on X featuring Musk and AfD leader Alice Weidel.
Critics, including members of Germany's government, have likened Musk's actions to foreign election interference, drawing parallels to tactics used by authoritarian leaders.