Musk's efforts to strengthen the German opposition

In December, Elon Musk, an American billionaire and confidant of US President Donald Trump, posted a six-word sentence on the social media platform X that shook the German political landscape.
He welcomed the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which calls for deporting illegal immigrants, leaving the European Union and moving closer to Russia, writing: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”
Musk endorsed the party after speaking with President Trump, his vice president J.D. Vance and others at Mar-a-Lago. Trump, Musk and Vance criticized the leaders of Germany’s main parties during their meeting, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
It shows how the seemingly meaningless statements of Trump and members of his inner circle resonate around the world, amplified by Musk’s control of a social media platform and his vast following. According to Musk and some of those who spoke to him, he has long sought to use Platform X to shake up the European political establishment, and for some time he has angered Germany and its leaders by meeting with entrepreneurs and others he met through the social media platform.
But his apparent push to boost the AfD party began hours after the Mar-a-Lago meeting in mid-December.
Trump told his guests at the Mar-a-Lago meeting that he had recently called German Chancellor Olaf Schulz and found him boring, according to two people familiar with the matter.
They also said Schulz would not be invited to Trump’s inauguration, and Trump made derogatory remarks about German leaders and their business practices. Musk, like Vance, has taken to the streets with his own criticism.
Musk posted about the AfD hours later, defending it in a German newspaper article and calling it “the only common sense” in an interview with the party’s leader.
Musk’s sharp criticism of Germany’s ruling leaders goes back to before the Mar-a-Lago visit, according to the Wall Street Journal. In an interview with the AfD leader, he said his personal experiences dealing with government regulations in Germany and his observations of its political culture had shaped his views.
he AfD’s popularity has soared in Germany since its founding 12 years ago. In September, the AfD won its first state election, and polls show it now has the second-largest share of voter support nationally, behind the conservative bloc.
But the party remains a political pariah for many mainstream German leaders who have sought to keep it out of power. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classifies some of its regional branches as far-right organizations. Some of its senior figures are strongly pro-Russian and anti-American.
The Wall Street Journal went on to detail several other efforts by Elon Musk to support the Alternative for Germany party, particularly through his social media network X, adding: “After publishing his article, Musk hosted a live interview with AfD leader Alice Weidel on January 9, during which they discussed topics ranging from solar energy to Adolf Hitler. Weidel said Hitler was a socialist.
In the days following the interview, polls showed a surge in support for the AfD. Professor Manfred Gollner, head of the Forsa polling institute, said: "Mask is helping to make the party more accessible to the masses."
Musk has also caused controversy in Germany in recent days, when he made a gesture during Trump's inauguration speech on January 20 that some interpreted as a Nazi salute.