Scholz: Musk’s Support for European Far Right Threatens Democracy

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has issued a strong rebuke against billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, accusing him of undermining European democracy through his vocal support of far-right political movements. Speaking on Friday, Scholz called Musk's actions "unacceptable" and warned of the risks posed by the Tesla CEO and owner of the X platform (formerly Twitter) leveraging his influence to amplify extremist ideologies across Europe.

“Musk supports the far right across Europe — in the UK, Germany, and other countries,” Scholz stated. “This endangers the democratic development of Europe.” His comments come amid rising concerns over Musk’s recent interventions in European politics, including his public endorsements of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of snap elections set for February 23.

Musk has sparked controversy by hosting AfD leader Alice Weidel on a livestream on X, granting the far-right politician unprecedented exposure. He also shared the AfD’s congress livestream to his millions of followers, significantly boosting its reach. The move has drawn widespread criticism from European leaders and institutions. A group of EU lawmakers recently expressed “deep concern” about Musk’s activities in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging stronger measures to safeguard democratic processes.

While Scholz acknowledged the right of individuals to express opinions in a globalized world, he criticized Musk’s alignment with far-right causes, stating, “His partisanship for the extreme right, whether out of business interests or personal political views, is unacceptable.” Scholz’s remarks highlight the broader tension between democratic governance and the growing influence of tech billionaires on global politics, raising urgent questions about accountability and the role of social media in shaping public discourse.