The AfD celebrates him, the FDP tries to win his favor and there is sharp criticism from other parties: US billionaire and Tesla founder Elon Musk has publicly identified himself as an AfD fan, causing a huge stir in the middle of the federal election campaign. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” wrote Musk on his platform X about the post of an influencer close to the AfD. In German: “Only the AfD can save Germany”.
AfD leader Alice Weidel thanked her immediately with, “Yes! You’re absolutely right, Elon Musk!” and later sent a video in English addressed to “Dear Elon”. Musk later shared this, which probably gave the clip enormous reach. According to X, Musk's original post alone had been viewed more than 25 million times by the afternoon.
The federal government reacted cautiously. Freedom of expression also applies to multi-billionaires, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) at a press conference in Berlin. “But freedom of expression also means that you can say things that are not right and do not contain good political advice.” Previously, a government spokeswoman had not specifically answered several questions about possible consequences and whether it was election interference or election influence from outside.
Lindner invites Musk to talk about the FDP
FDP leader Christian Lindner wrote to Musk that the AfD was against freedom and the economy and was a right-wing extremist party. Musk should not jump to conclusions from a distance, but should meet with him and talk about the FDP. Lindner's party colleague Wolfgang Kubicki advised overall calmness in view of Musk's post: “I don't think that the Tesla drivers in Germany will let this expression of opinion influence their voting decision,” he said Welt. Kubicki spoke of a private expression of opinion by Musk.
However, there was sharp criticism of Musk from various other parties. If he actively intervenes in the election campaign with his Platform t-online. Germany needs neither foreign influences nor Trumpism. “Stay out, Elon,” he demanded.
The digital policy spokesman for the Union parliamentary group, Reinhard Brandl (CSU), said Welt: “Such a concentration of power and reach in one person is a serious threat to our democracy.” The left-wing top candidate Heidi Reichinnek said: “Elon Musk is the richest man in the world who has bought a mass media to express his unfiltered opinion To impress millions of people and thereby exert influence on the politics of various states.”
