The German channcellor has doubled down on the country’s historical guilt and denounced the tech billionaire’s endorsement of a rival party
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned U.S. billionaire Elon Musk’s public support for a rival political party ahead of Germany’s upcoming parliamentary elections, labeling the intervention “disgusting.” Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, recently voiced his endorsement of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), urging voters to move beyond the concept of generational guilt tied to the nation’s history.
During a video address at an AfD rally in Halle over the weekend, Musk criticized multiculturalism and emphasized pride in German cultural identity, stating, “It’s good to be proud of German culture and values without diluting them.” He also argued that descendants should not bear responsibility for historical atrocities, adding, “Children shouldn’t be guilty of their parents’ sins, let alone their ancestors’. Focusing excessively on past guilt hinders progress.”
Scholz, speaking to journalists at a campaign event in Berlin, rebuked Musk’s stance. “We owe gratitude to the United States for liberating Germany and aiding our democratic rebirth,” he stated. “Musk’s alignment with far-right ideologies and his dismissal of Germany’s accountability for the Holocaust and WWII atrocities is deeply troubling. Upholding this historical responsibility remains non-negotiable.” The Chancellor further criticized Musk’s actions as harmful to democratic integrity within the EU.
Scholz has led Germany since 2021 through a three-party “traffic light” coalition with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens. The alliance dissolved in November amid economic policy disputes, prompting snap elections set for February 23.
Musk, a vocal critic of Scholz, has repeatedly endorsed AfD leader Alice Weidel for chancellor. At the Halle rally, attended by approximately 4,500 supporters, he framed the election as pivotal, claiming, “The future of Western civilization could hinge on this vote.”
Modern German politics emphasizes reckoning with the Holocaust and WWII, with mainstream leaders cautioning against nationalist rhetoric linked to the Nazi era. Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) and its allies have accused the AfD of neo-Nazi sympathies, though efforts to ban the party as extremist have stalled.
Musk’s remarks have reignited debates over historical memory, national identity, and foreign influence in German elections, drawing sharp backlash from political leaders committed to confronting the nation’s past.