German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to Elon Musk’s recent critical remarks, maintaining that he stays “cool” in the face of the personal insults. Musk had called Scholz a “fool” after the collapse of his government coalition in November and later expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in an opinion piece. Scholz, who leads the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), dismissed Musk’s criticism as typical of wealthy media moguls who oppose social democratic policies and often make harsh public statements.
While Scholz remained unfazed by the personal insults, he expressed deeper concern over Musk’s involvement in German politics. He found it far more troubling that Musk chose to back a party like the AfD, which has been associated with right-wing extremism, promotes closer ties with Putin’s Russia, and advocates for weakening transatlantic relations. Scholz warned that Musk’s support for the AfD posed a much more significant threat to Germany than the insults directed at him.
Elon Musk
The AfD has been monitored by Germany’s domestic intelligence service for its extremist tendencies, with some German states officially recognizing it as a right-wing extremist group. With Germany preparing for an early parliamentary election on February 23, following the collapse of Scholz’s coalition government due to disagreements over economic policies, political tensions are rising. The AfD’s controversial positions have become a growing concern for many in the country.
In addition to Scholz’s comments, Robert Habeck, Germany’s vice chancellor and economy minister, also criticized Musk’s involvement in German politics. Habeck, a member of the Green Party, directly warned Musk to stay out of Germany’s democratic process. He highlighted the dangers posed by Musk’s immense wealth, control over information and networks, and his willingness to disregard rules, calling it a “frontal attack on our democracy.”
Musk’s endorsement of the AfD in his opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag caused a stir, even leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, in protest. The backlash against Musk’s political involvement reflects growing concerns over his influence on global political matters. His public support for the AfD, combined with his powerful position in the tech industry, has raised serious questions about the role of wealthy individuals in shaping political discourse and outcomes worldwide.
