The German government has said Elon Musk is trying to influence its upcoming election with his social media posts in support of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
“It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election,” a government spokesperson said. “After all, freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense.”
The comments were reported by Reuters after being published in German in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
Newsweek has contacted X, formerly Twitter, via email for comment on behalf of Musk, as well as the German government’s press department via email.
Why It Matters
Musk has risen to become a significant political figure in the U.S. after throwing his support behind Donald Trump in the 2024 election and being selected to head the incoming administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Tesla boss has faced controversy for his support of the AfD ahead of Germany’s federal elections, including a December 20 post on X backing the party.
What To Know
The snap elections, being held in February, were triggered after the collapse of the German coalition government, when Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote.
As well as posting his support for the AfD, Musk penned an opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag over the weekend, denying that the AfD is “rightwing extremist,” calling this portrayal “clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka.”
AfD is polling in second place after the German conservatives, Reuters reported earlier this month.
The party is currently under observation by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, for suspected extremism, which the AfD has insisted is a political attempt to discredit the party.