Why Musk supports German far-right and what consequences it may have

Elon Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump and the world's richest person, is setting the tone for Germany’s election campaign. With his statements in support of the far-right, he is making Germany’s mainstream parties nervous ahead of the parliamentary elections on 23 February.

Read more to understand whether the billionaire can truly influence the election results and what far-reaching consequences his actions may have in the article by Khrystyna Bondarieva, a European Pravda journalist – Alternative for Elon Musk: why Trump's ally is interfering in the German elections.

In a very short period, Musk’s relationship with Germany changed beyond recognition.

"Germany is teetering on the brink of economic and cultural collapse," "Germany is becoming comfortable with mediocrity," "The former engine of Europe is drowning in bureaucracy and repressive regulations." These are quotes from Elon Musk’s guest article published in Welt am Sonntag in late December. They vividly reflect his sharp shift in rhetoric.

In the article, Musk openly urged Germans to vote for Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party whose branches and individual members have been officially classified as right-wing extremists by German intelligence services.

Despite this, Musk considers this party to be "the last spark of hope for the country."

In recent months, Musk has frequently shared positive articles about AfD on X and called for support of the party.

The peak of Musk’s advocacy came when he made an online appearance at an AfD campaign event in the eastern German city of Halle. Among other statements, he claimed that Alternative for Germany allegedly had the support of Trump’s administration.

At first glance, Musk’s support for AfD seems paradoxical. He is a symbol of globalisation, while Alternative for Germany is a nationalist party that advocates for closed borders and often holds strong anti-American sentiments.

Musk actually shares many ideological similarities with the German far-right.

His views align with AfD’s positions on key issues. Like AfD, he criticised COVID-19 restrictions, opposed illegal immigration, and expressed scepticism toward transgender rights.

Furthermore, like AfD, Musk strongly opposes what he calls "state censorship" and advocates for "absolute freedom of speech" – a stance that has led to an influx of misinformation and fake news on his social media X.

One of Musk’s key motivations is economic. He has praised AfD’s plans to dismantle excessive state regulations, reduce taxes, and deregulate the market – policies that would directly benefit his Tesla factory in Brandenburg, which is awaiting expansion.

AfD’s ratings have slightly increased, but it remains unclear whether Musk’s backing will significantly enhance the party’s popularity.

However, mainstream politicians are publicly expressing concern over the billionaire’s interference.

There is also a possibility that Musk’s support could help AfD reposition itself as a more moderate party, potentially making it a "normal" coalition partner.

Currently, all German political parties refuse to form coalitions with the far-right. But looking ahead to the 2029 elections, AfD may no longer appear as politically toxic, partly due to Elon Musk’s ongoing efforts.