Musk advises Germans to move past 'past guilt' during address at far-right AfD gathering
The tech billionaire and Trump adviser has faced criticism for consistently supporting the AfD ahead of Germany’s upcoming snap election next month.
TroibNews 
Elon Musk made a virtual appearance at a rally for the far-right Alternative for Germany party on Saturday, reaffirming his support ahead of the country’s election on February 23rd. He urged the audience to "move on" from "past guilt."
Addressing the crowd alongside party leader Alice Weidel, Musk described the AfD as the “best hope for Germany” and emphasized the need to “preserve German culture” and “protect the German people.”
“Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,” Musk commented, seemingly alluding to Germany’s Nazi history.
“It's good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” he added, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from approximately 4,500 attendees.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concern about Musk's remarks. He stated, "The words we heard from the main actors of the AfD rally about 'Great Germany' and 'the need to forget German guilt for Nazi crimes' sounded all too familiar and ominous. Especially only hours before the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz," referencing the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the notorious Nazi death camp.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" the following day, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, also lamented the timing of Musk's comments coinciding with the Auschwitz anniversary. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, questioned why President Trump had not condemned Musk's remarks.
Musk’s endorsement of the AfD last month faced significant backlash, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who claimed that the tech mogul’s backing of the far-right "endangers" European democracy. Musk has also shown support for other far-right European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Nigel Farage, leader of Reform U.K. Party.
Additionally, Musk invested over a quarter of a billion dollars in the 2024 election cycle to help elect Donald Trump, earning an influential role in leading the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
During Trump’s inauguration celebrations on Monday, Musk stirred controversy by making a stiff-armed salute that critics likened to the Nazi "Sieg Heil." He dismissed these comparisons, stating that "radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi," and later posted a series of Nazi-themed puns.
Earlier this month, Musk and Weidel, who is vying for the chancellorship, engaged in a candid discussion on Musk’s X platform, covering an array of topics from “future Martians” to God and Adolf Hitler. Musk prompted Weidel to address allegations linking the AfD to Hitler’s Nazi party. She responded by labeling Hitler a “communist socialist guy” and contended that the AfD represents “exactly the opposite.”
At the rally, Weidel expressed gratitude for Musk's support, declaring, “Make Germany great again!”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
Addressing the crowd alongside party leader Alice Weidel, Musk described the AfD as the “best hope for Germany” and emphasized the need to “preserve German culture” and “protect the German people.”
“Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,” Musk commented, seemingly alluding to Germany’s Nazi history.
“It's good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” he added, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from approximately 4,500 attendees.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concern about Musk's remarks. He stated, "The words we heard from the main actors of the AfD rally about 'Great Germany' and 'the need to forget German guilt for Nazi crimes' sounded all too familiar and ominous. Especially only hours before the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz," referencing the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the notorious Nazi death camp.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" the following day, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, also lamented the timing of Musk's comments coinciding with the Auschwitz anniversary. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, questioned why President Trump had not condemned Musk's remarks.
Musk’s endorsement of the AfD last month faced significant backlash, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who claimed that the tech mogul’s backing of the far-right "endangers" European democracy. Musk has also shown support for other far-right European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Nigel Farage, leader of Reform U.K. Party.
Additionally, Musk invested over a quarter of a billion dollars in the 2024 election cycle to help elect Donald Trump, earning an influential role in leading the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
During Trump’s inauguration celebrations on Monday, Musk stirred controversy by making a stiff-armed salute that critics likened to the Nazi "Sieg Heil." He dismissed these comparisons, stating that "radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi," and later posted a series of Nazi-themed puns.
Earlier this month, Musk and Weidel, who is vying for the chancellorship, engaged in a candid discussion on Musk’s X platform, covering an array of topics from “future Martians” to God and Adolf Hitler. Musk prompted Weidel to address allegations linking the AfD to Hitler’s Nazi party. She responded by labeling Hitler a “communist socialist guy” and contended that the AfD represents “exactly the opposite.”
At the rally, Weidel expressed gratitude for Musk's support, declaring, “Make Germany great again!”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
