Elon Musk sparked global debate on January 25, 2025, when he addressed 4,500 supporters at an Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) rally in Halle, Germany, via livestream, calling the libertarian-conservative party Germanys best hope and urging citizens to reject excessive guilt over historical crimes.The Tesla CEO argued that Germanys focus on its Nazi past stifles cultural pride, drawing parallels between ancient Germanic warriors and modern resilience.
Critics have accused Musk of amplifying the AfDs anti-immigration platform, which advocates measures such as a 100-day border closure and mass deportationsa stance that echoes policies championed by Donald Trump.Recent polls show the AfD now holds 22% national support, trailing the CDU/CSU bloc at 31% but surpassing Chancellor Olaf Scholzs SPD at 15%.
Mainstream German parties refuse to collaborate with the AfD, citing ties to extremists like Bjrn Hcke, who called Berlins Holocaust memorial a monument of shame.Elon Musk to Germany: End Obsession with Past Guilt at AfD Rally.
(Photo Internet reproduction)Musk previously faced backlash for a gesture resembling a Nazi salute at Trumps 2025 inauguration, though he dismissed claims of intentional symbolism.
EU regulators later warned him about election interference after he promoted AfD content on his platform X, violating the Digital Services Act, also called the Censorship Act.Germanys migration crisis fuels the AfDs rise, with 1.7 million refugees entering since 2022.
Mainstream parties, including the CDU, now advocate stricter policies, such as accelerated deportations, to counter the libertarian-conservative surge.Elon Musk to Germany: End Obsession with Past Guilt at AfD RallyOver 100,000 protesters flooded the leftwing strongholds of Berlin and Cologne, rallying against the AfD with smartphone flashlights illuminating the streets and chants tying Elon Musks rhetoric to Europes shifting political landscape.Musks alliance with figures like Trump and Italys Giorgia Meloni underscores his libertarian stance, prioritizing border control and rejecting EU climate mandates.The Unexpected Rise of Alice Weidel in German PoliticsAnalysts note Musks influence reflects a broader trend of tech moguls shaping global discourse, framing free speech as resistance to woke paternalism.
Meanwhile, AfD leader Alice Weidel praised Trumps potential to end the Ukraine war, criticizing Europes reliance on United States leadership.As Germanys February 23 election nears, observers question whether Musks endorsement will sway undecided voters or deepen societal fractures.
The controversy highlights tensions between national identity and historical accountability, with Musk positioning himself as a champion of self-determination against what he calls ideological conformity.