Elon Musk made a virtual appearance at a rally for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday, voicing support ahead of the country’s upcoming February 23 snap election and urging Germans to “move on” from what he described as “past guilt.”
Addressing the crowd via video link, Musk appeared alongside AfD leader Alice Weidel, hailing the party as “the best hope for Germany” and calling for the preservation of “German culture” and the protection of “the German people.” In a nod to Germany’s Nazi history, Musk stated, “Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents.”
Musk went on to advocate for national pride, saying, “It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything.” His remarks were met with loud cheers from the approximately 4,500 attendees gathered at the event.
Yad Vashem Chairman Danny Dayan responded Sunday morning to the remarks made by businessman Elon Musk at the Alternative for Germany (AfD) election rally over the weekend stating that this was an affront to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
"Contrary to Elon Musk's advice, acknowledging Germany's dark past and its not too distant past must be a key element in shaping German society," Dayan wrote in a post on X, which is owned by Musk himself. "Failing to do so would be a stinging insult to the victims of the Holocaust and a real danger to Germany's democratic future."
The controversy surrounding Musk deepened during Trump’s inauguration celebrations, where he made a stiff-armed salute that many critics compared to the Nazi “Sieg Heil.” While the gesture sparked outrage, Musk dismissed the criticism, accusing “radical leftists” of targeting him. “They’re so busy praising Hamas that they took a break to call me a Nazi,” Musk quipped. He followed this by posting a string of Nazi-themed puns, further escalating the backlash.
Elon Musk’s initial endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party last month provoked widespread backlash, including a sharp condemnation from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz warned that Musk’s support for the far-right “poses a serious threat” to European democracy. Musk has also recently expressed support for other far-right European figures, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform U.K. Party leader Nigel Farage, though he later criticized Farage, saying he “lacks the vision to lead.”
Politico contributed to this article.
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