Elon Musk Advocates for German Pride at Far-Right Rally

DEGermany|

Tech billionaire Elon Musk made a controversial virtual appearance at a rally for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on January 27, 2025. Speaking to an audience of approximately 4,500 supporters in Halle, Musk called on Germans to embrace pride in their heritage and "move beyond" the guilt associated with the nation's Nazi past.

During his address alongside party leader Alice Weidel, Musk emphasized the importance of preserving German culture and values, attributing the need for national pride to a sense of optimism for Germany’s future. “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 stated.

Musk's comments come in the context of upcoming elections in Germany, where a coalition government has recently collapsed, prompting an early election on February 23. He believes the election could have significant repercussions not only for Germany but for Europe as a whole.

Critics, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have condemned Musk’s remarks, arguing that freedom of speech does not extend to promoting extreme-right ideologies. Scholz has previously stated that society must not condone extreme views and has countered Musk's influence by reiterating a commitment to diversity and historical awareness.

Musk defended his statements and dismissed the backlash as a tired attack against him, reiterating his view in a guest article where he described the AfD as a potential spark of hope for the country.

Weekly Newsletter

Loading...

More from Germany

German Doctor Charged with Murdering 15 Patients

A 40-year-old German palliative care doctor has been charged with the murders of 15 patients, utilizing lethal drugs to allegedly end their lives, according to prosecutors in Berlin. The suspect, whose identity remains confidential due to German privacy laws, is accused of killing 12 women and three men from September 2021 to July 2024, a figure that authorities believe may increase as the investigation continues. Prosecutors assert that the doctor administered an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant without the patients’ knowledge, resulting in respiratory arrest and rapid death. Additionally, he is alleged to have attempted to cover up the crimes by setting fire to the homes of several victims on five occasions. The charges highlight incidents including the simultaneous deaths of a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman in July 2024, both under suspicious circumstances. The authorities are pursuing a "lifelong professional ban" and "preventative detention" for the doctor, who remains in custody as investigations into potentially more victims continue.
DEGermany

Major Darknet Child Exploitation Platform "Kidflix" Shut Down in International Operation

Authorities have dismantled a significant Darknet platform known as "Kidflix," which had facilitated the sharing of over 91,000 videos depicting child sexual abuse. According to the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and the General Prosecutor's Office of Bamberg, the operation, coordinated by Europol, involved law enforcement from 38 countries and resulted in 79 arrests, including suspects aged 20 to 40. The investigation, which began in early 2022, revealed that the platform had nearly 1.8 million users, with 190,000 active at the time of the shutdown. Detective Guido Limmer described the crackdown as a "major blow" against child pornography, noting that many of the suspects had long histories of Darknet engagement. Authorities executed 96 raids in Germany across 13 states. They utilized specialized detection dogs to uncover evidence. While two children, including an 11-year-old from North Rhine-Westphalia, were identified from video evidence, the ultimate operator of the site remains unidentified, leaving investigators determined to pursue further leads.
DEGermany

Germany Deploys Troops to Lithuania in Historic Military Move

Germany has announced the long-term deployment of troops to Lithuania for the first time since World War II, establishing the 45th Armored Brigade. According to the Bundeswehr, this brigade will consist of approximately 5,000 soldiers and civilian staff, positioning Germany to enhance NATO’s eastern defense amid heightened tensions from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Brigadier General Christoph Huber, commanding the new brigade, emphasized that this move signifies Germany's commitment to European security and leadership within NATO. "We're taking responsibility for the alliance and for Lithuania," he stated, underscoring the mission’s importance in maintaining peace and freedom alongside NATO partners. The decision aligns with Lithuania's growing defense concerns given its proximity to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus. Lithuania's defense minister, Dovilė Šakalienė, highlighted the urgency for increased defense spending across Europe to match threats from Russia. This historic deployment meets a rising trend in defense spending among NATO members, with Germany's military budget projected to increase significantly over the coming years.
DEGermany
All Germany News ->