Chief editor of leading German newspaper resigns following Musk op-ed controversy
A senior editor from Germany's daily Die Welt has stepped down in response to Elon Musk's op-ed. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The opinion editor of Germany’s prominent newspaper Die Welt has resigned following the publication of an op-ed by Elon Musk, in which he expressed support for the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
“I have always enjoyed running the opinion pages of Welt and Welt am Sonntag. Today, an article written by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday, after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel stated on X.
The billionaire entrepreneur, owner of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, wrote the article after previously praising AfD on social media. In his op-ed, Musk, a significant supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump, referred to AfD as “the last spark of hope” for Germany. He argued that the party's “pragmatic” approach will lead to a revival for the nation, claiming that other political entities are disconnected from the concerns of ordinary citizens.
“The traditional parties have failed Germany. Their policies have led to economic stagnation, social unrest and an erosion of national identity,” Musk wrote. “Despite being far-right, AfD represents political realism that resonates with many Germans who feel that their concerns are being ignored by the establishment.”
Musk also contended that “their portrayal as far-right is clearly false.”
The decision to publish the op-ed reportedly ignited significant debate among Die Welt’s staff, with some feeling it interfered in the upcoming snap parliamentary election scheduled for February 2025.
Jan Philipp Burgard, a senior reporter at Die Welt, criticized Musk’s praise of AfD, labeling it “fatally flawed” and asserting that failing to categorize the party as far-right was “a big mistake.”
Another journalist from Die Welt, Franziska Zimmerer, expressed in her own op-ed that Musk's contribution “should not have appeared” in the paper. “Election appeals, no matter the party, have no place in independent media,” she asserted.
AfD has been advocating for stricter asylum policies and taking a stance against organized crime and Islamic extremism since its founding in 2013. The party has gained traction in recent years, winning its first regional election in Thuringia in September.
The 2025 election was necessitated by the collapse of the ruling three-party coalition over budget disagreements.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
“I have always enjoyed running the opinion pages of Welt and Welt am Sonntag. Today, an article written by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday, after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel stated on X.
The billionaire entrepreneur, owner of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, wrote the article after previously praising AfD on social media. In his op-ed, Musk, a significant supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump, referred to AfD as “the last spark of hope” for Germany. He argued that the party's “pragmatic” approach will lead to a revival for the nation, claiming that other political entities are disconnected from the concerns of ordinary citizens.
“The traditional parties have failed Germany. Their policies have led to economic stagnation, social unrest and an erosion of national identity,” Musk wrote. “Despite being far-right, AfD represents political realism that resonates with many Germans who feel that their concerns are being ignored by the establishment.”
Musk also contended that “their portrayal as far-right is clearly false.”
The decision to publish the op-ed reportedly ignited significant debate among Die Welt’s staff, with some feeling it interfered in the upcoming snap parliamentary election scheduled for February 2025.
Jan Philipp Burgard, a senior reporter at Die Welt, criticized Musk’s praise of AfD, labeling it “fatally flawed” and asserting that failing to categorize the party as far-right was “a big mistake.”
Another journalist from Die Welt, Franziska Zimmerer, expressed in her own op-ed that Musk's contribution “should not have appeared” in the paper. “Election appeals, no matter the party, have no place in independent media,” she asserted.
AfD has been advocating for stricter asylum policies and taking a stance against organized crime and Islamic extremism since its founding in 2013. The party has gained traction in recent years, winning its first regional election in Thuringia in September.
The 2025 election was necessitated by the collapse of the ruling three-party coalition over budget disagreements.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
