Elon Musk, Tesla’s billionaire CEO and adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, has reaffirmed his stance in favor of Germany’s far-right party.
In an op-ed published in a leading German newspaper, Musk called the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, “the last spark of hope for this country. “He praised his positions on immigration and government regulation, among other things.
“The AfD advocates a controlled immigration policy that prioritizes integration and the preservation of German culture and security. This is not about xenophobia, but about ensuring that Germany does not lose its identity in the pursuit of globalization,” Musk wrote. The country will have to maintain its basic values and cultural heritage to stay strong and united. ”
The Welt am Sonntag newspaper published the op-ed on Saturday alongside an opposing op-ed written by Welt’s editor in chief for television. The newspaper’s opinion editor resigned in response, citing the publication of Musk’s piece. Welt am Sonntag and Business Insider are both owned by Axel Springer SE.
Germany will hold elections in February after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence earlier this month, paving the way for early elections. AfD, long a fringe political party, is gaining popularity in Germany thanks to its anti-immigration program.
Musk said in his op-ed that this “resonates with many Germans who feel their considerations are being ignored by the establishment,” adding that “the description of the AfD as a right-wing extremist is obviously false. “
He also praised the party for supporting tax cuts and economic deregulation, and he called for a more balanced energy approach that includes nuclear energy.
Tesla has a major gigafactory in Berlin that manufactures battery cells and Model Y cars.
“As someone who has made significant investments in the German business and technology landscape, I have the right to speak unabashedly about his political orientation,” Musk wrote.
After publishing the op-ed, Musk reposted a series of comments on X, his social media platform, that also praised AfD. One post accused Europe and the United States of overusing the label “far-right.”
Last week, Musk called Scholz an “incompetent fool,” adding that the chancellor resigned following an attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg that left five other people dead. Musk shared a post on X suggesting that the attack was a result of immigration. The arrested suspect was a Saudi citizen who had requested political asylum in Germany.
“We have freedom of opinion — it also goes for multibillionaires, but freedom of opinion also means that you can say things that aren’t right and don’t contain good political advice,” Scholz said in response, according to the Associated Press.
Editor’s note: Business Insider is owned by Axel Springer, owner of the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
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