Elon Musk implied that Germany needed to stop focusing on the sins of its past at a German far-right election event.
During a surprise appearance at Germany’s AfD (Alternative fuer Deutschland) election campaign event in Halle in eastern Germany on Saturday, Musk spoke publicly in support of the far-right party for the second time in as many weeks.
He asserted that “children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents,” apparently referring to Germany’s Nazi past.
Addressing a hall of 4,500 people alongside 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 to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said.
‘Too much focus on past guilt’
Last week, the US billionaire caused uproar after he made a gesture that drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute during US President Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities.
“There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that,” he said.
Musk, who spoke of suppression of speech under Germany’s government, has previously attacked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X.
On Tuesday, Scholz said he does not support freedom of speech when it is used for extreme-right views.
Musk spoke in favour of voting for the far right party, saying: “I’m very excited for the AfD, I think you’re really the best hope for Germany … fight for a great future for Germany,” he told onlookers.
Weidel thanked him, said the Republicans were making America great again, and called on her supporters to make Germany great again.
Earlier this month, Musk hosted Weidel in an interview on X, stirring concern about election meddling.
Despite the winter weather, anti-far right campaigners were out in force on Saturday, with around 100,000 gathering around Berlin’s Brandenburg gate and up to 20,000 in Cologne, including people of all ages carrying colorful umbrellas.