On Thursday, JD Vance, the vice president-elect, utilized the social media platform X to share an op-ed by Elon Musk, who expressed his support for the far-right German political party known as the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Vance described Musk’s English translation of the article as an “interesting piece.” While acknowledging the op-ed, he made it clear that he does not endorse the AfD in the upcoming German elections, stating that it is not his country and emphasizing the desire for good relations with all Germans.
Additionally, he criticized American media, claiming that “American media slanders AfD as Nazi-lite,” while pointing out that the party has gained popularity in regions of Germany that historically resisted the Nazis.
Musk, a prominent ally of President-elect Trump, authored the guest opinion piece for the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, where he discussed various issues that he believes Germany must confront as it approaches what he described as an “economic and cultural collapse.” He further asserted in a separate post on X that “only the AfD can save Germany.”
In response to Musk’s op-ed, the paper’s commentary editor resigned in protest, and on Monday, the German government accused Musk of attempting to influence the country’s upcoming election scheduled for February.
Andreas Michaelis, Germany’s ambassador to the U.S., reacted to Vance’s tweet by referring to it as an “interesting observation” in a post on Bluesky. He cautioned that “historical context can be tricky,” explaining that while some areas did resist the Nazi party early on, others did not or later became strongholds for the regime. He underscored the importance of challenging extremism in all its forms, given Germany’s complex history.
Musk, who expressed his support for the AfD last December, defended his involvement in German politics by asserting his “right” to participate due to his “investments” in the country’s tech and industrial sectors.
The billionaire has also called for the resignation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as elections in Germany are set for February 23. Currently, the AfD stands as the second most popular party in Germany, though all major parties have ruled out forming a coalition with it.
Christiane Hoffmann, a spokesperson for the German government, stated during a Monday media briefing that “it is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election through his statement,” adding that “freedom of expression also includes the greatest nonsense.” The AfD advocates for a stringent anti-immigration policy and supports mass deportations from Germany.
Musk has increasingly engaged in global politics, having recently criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party-led government.
