Elon Musk Says Solely Far-Proper Extremist Group ‘Can Save’ Germany

Elon Musk, America’s wealthiest oligarch, tweeted an endorsement of Germany’s AfD political celebration and lots of Germans aren’t pleased with that truth. Why? It most likely has one thing to do with AfD’s racism, xenophobia, and links to neo-Nazis. You understand, simply the traditional issues that Musk finds himself selling right here in 2024 as a prime advisor to Donald Trump.

“Solely the AfD can save Germany,” the billionaire wrote within the early morning hours of Friday.

Musk’s tweet was selling one other tweet from Naomi Seibt a German local weather change denier who rose to prominence because the anti-Greta Thunberg. Seibt has additionally promoted conspiracy theories and been accused of being antisemitic, in response to the Guardian, a declare she denies.

The far-right in Germany have been thrilled with Musk’s tweet, together with Alice Weidel, who’s working to be chancellor as co-leader of the AfD within the upcoming February elections, as Germany’s DW information outlet reviews.

“Sure! You’re completely proper!” Weidel tweeted to Musk. “Please additionally take a look into my interview on President Trump, how socialist Merkel ruined our nation, how the Soviet European Union destroys the international locations [sic] financial spine and malfunctioning Germany!”

Germany’s Federal Workplace for the Safety of the Structure, its home intelligence group, has listed AfD as a “suspected terrorist group” and not less than two German states have formally labeled it as such, in response to DW.

However many different politicians in Germany have been lower than enthused, noting Musk’s interference in German politics and his relatively infamous lack of intelligence, usually displayed in late-night tweets. Alexander Throm, a politician with the Christian Democratic Union political celebration, even joked about Musk’s cognitive difficulties whereas speaking to native media.

“I used to be a bit stunned as a result of we often hear that Elon Musk is that this gifted wunderkind, however after I hear these feedback, I’ve to doubt that,” Throm advised DW. “Change can solely be made by those that govern. And the AfD is not going to govern. As a result of no different celebration will type a authorities with them.”

Musk’s endorsement has critical implications for Individuals as properly, given the truth that he seems to be probably the most highly effective political determine within the nation proper now. Musk has doubled his internet price this 12 months because the wealthiest particular person on the earth and helped Donald Trump get elected by spending over 1 / 4 of a billion {dollars} on Republican races within the 2024 election.

Musk, who has a historical past of racist comments, insists that he solely voted for a Republican for the first time in 2022, suggesting he solely voted for Democrats earlier than that. However even when we take him at his phrase (he lies continuously, like when he initially denied funding Trump’s presidential marketing campaign) he’s nonetheless develop into a powerhouse in Republican politics. And he’s utilizing that energy proper now.

The truth is, Musk has promised to provoke primaries in opposition to any Republicans that cross him, which is not any idle menace given the truth that he’s nonetheless working a political motion committee known as America PAC. Musk has additionally been funding a bunch that’s working adverts to advertise Pete Hegseth’s affirmation as Secretary of Protection. These adverts have been credited with applying pressure to Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa who was seen as a potential vote in opposition to Hegseth as a consequence of her historical past as a fight veteran who has publicly talked about her expertise with sexual violence. Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault, a cost he denies. Ernst now seems to assist Hegseth’s affirmation.

Musk has additionally been making waves on the earth of laws even earlier than Trump formally takes energy on Jan. 20, 2025. The U.S. Home is presently making an attempt to cross funding to maintain the federal government open earlier than a 12:01 a.m. deadline that will shut down many governmental features, however Musk has been credited with tanking two payments that have been introduced up Thursday.

Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson is reportedly engaged on one other model of the funding invoice that’s purported to get a vote Friday. However everyone seems to be maintaining a tally of Musk’s X account, which is the place he provides orders and organizes his military of dipshit influencers who strain politicians. If Musk provides the thumbs up, it appears prone to cross. If he says no, Trump will possible comply with and we’ll discover ourselves in a authorities shutdown proper in the course of the busy vacation journey season.

We stay in a really clear oligarchy at this level. And Musk’s promotion of a far-right celebration like AfD isn’t an important signal of what lies forward.