By Emma-Victoria Farr
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at Germany’s AfD (Alternative fuer Deutschland) election campaign in Halle, eastern Germany on Saturday, speaking publicly in support of the far-right party for the second time in as many weeks.
Addressing a hall of 4,500 people together with party leader Alice Weidel, Musk spoke live via video link about preserving German culture and protecting the German people.
“It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not lose it in some kind of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said.
Last week, the American billionaire caused a stir after he made a gesture that drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute during the inauguration ceremony of US President Donald Trump.
On Saturday, he said that “children should not be blamed for the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,” apparently referring to Germany’s Nazi past.
“There is too much focus on past guilt and we need to move beyond that,” he said.
Musk, who has spoken about a clampdown on speech under the German government, previously attacked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X.
For his part, Scholz said on Tuesday that he does not support free speech when it is used for far-right views.
Musk advocated a vote for the far-right party, saying: “I’m very excited about the AfD, I think you’re really the best hope for Germany (the) fight for a great future for Germany,” he told onlookers.
Weidel thanked him, said Republicans are making America great again, and urged his supporters to make Germany great again.
Earlier this month, Musk hosted Weidel in an interview on X, raising concerns about election meddling.
Despite the wintry weather, anti-far-right activists were out in force on Saturday, with around 100,000 gathered around Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and up to 20,000 in Cologne, including people of all ages carrying colorful umbrellas.
