Musk’s Support for Far-Right Leaders Sparks Debate Ahead of Germany’s Upcoming Elections

As Donald Trump’s potential second administration approaches, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has emerged as a controversial figure, launching attacks on the UK and German governments while openly supporting far-right factions.

In contrast, leaders in France and Italy try to win Musk’s approval.

On Friday, major British and American media outlets reported that Musk shared and endorsed a post on X suggesting King Charles III should dissolve Parliament and call for new elections to remove the seven-month-old Labour government.

The day before, Musk accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of covering up child exploitation cases during his tenure as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013. Musk called for a reinvestigation and demanded Starmer’s resignation.

He also urged the immediate release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist who has been imprisoned since October 2022. Reports indicate that Musk plans to donate $100 million to political causes after meeting with Nigel Farage, the far-right UK Reform Party leader, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last month.

Concerns are growing in Germany about Musk’s potential interference in the upcoming general election on February 23. He has openly endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, declaring on X that “Only the AfD can save Germany” and publishing an op-ed calling the AfD “Germany’s last hope.”

Musk also referred to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as an “anti-democratic tyrant” and called Chancellor Olaf Scholz an “incompetent fool” who should resign.

Sunder Katwala, director of the London-based think tank British Future, observed that Musk’s messages are not gaining significant traction in the UK or Germany. However, both governments face challenges in responding due to their complex relationships with Trump.

Katwala pointed out the complexities European countries face in dealing with Trump’s potential return to power, noting that Musk, who is not a public official, has also complicated matters by inserting himself into the situation. This highlights the pressures from both individuals’ growing influences.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who have avoided Musk’s criticism, actively seek his favor.

Macron welcomed Musk to the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony alongside Trump last December and invited both to an AI summit in Paris this February.