Elon Musk sparks German media storm with AfD endorsement
The rise of the far-right in several European countries, including its consolidation in the European Parliament, highlights the ideological transformations reshaping the Old Continent.
It also underscores the rising prominence of financiers and opinion leaders, whose influence often surpasses that of traditional politicians.
This shift is exemplified by Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person—and arguably in history—who recently published an op-ed in the German newspaper Die Welt. In the article, Musk endorsed the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), calling it "the last glimmer of hope for the nation."
While Die Welt is undoubtedly a right-leaning newspaper, Musk's endorsement of AfD proved too controversial for some of its editorial staff. This sparked an intense internal dispute, culminating in the resignation of several veteran journalists.
As always, the grim specter of Germany’s past looms large. Many still remember how segments of the conservative elite and the media enabled the Nazis’ rise in the 1920s and 1930s.
Figures like media magnate Alfred Hugenberg remain emblematic of this complicity. Hugenberg, who controlled half of Germany’s press after World War I, was a conservative monarchist and leader of the German National People’s Party. Nevertheless, he played a pivotal role in helping Adolf Hitler become Chancellor of Germany.
Musk dismissed such historical concerns, commenting on Germany’s past: “Portraying AfD as far-right is clearly wrong,” he wrote, emphasizing that “Alice Weidel, the party leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you?”
This statement broke a longstanding taboo. By publishing a pro-AfD op-ed by one of the world’s most influential figures, Die Welt shattered a tacit consensus among German media institutions to deny AfD a platform.
Musk further declared on platform X that “only AfD can save Germany.”
The relationship between German media and AfD has undoubtedly shifted. One of the world’s largest news publishers has broken the taboo surrounding AfD and the press. With Germany heading toward parliamentary elections in February, Europe’s economic powerhouse appears to be drifting into uncharted waters.
Author: Dan Alexe
Translation by Iurie Tataru
