Elon Musk Supports German Far-Right Party at Campaign Event

DEGermany|

Elon Musk made a surprise appearance via video link at a campaign event for Germany's far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), in Halle on January 26, 2025. This marks the billionaire's second public endorsement of the party in recent weeks. Speaking to an audience of 4,500 attendees alongside party leader Alice Weidel, Musk emphasized the importance of preserving German culture and values, criticizing what he described as a dilution of these by multiculturalism.

Musk argued against the notion of collective guilt regarding Germany's Nazi past, stating, "Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents." He urged voters to consider the AfD as a hopeful option for Germany's future. Weidel expressed gratitude for his support, likening the efforts of the AfD to an initiative to make Germany great again.

Musk's comments have drawn attention amid ongoing criticism of his previous remarks and gestures that appeared to reference Nazi symbolism. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has publicly denounced extreme-right views and emphasized the limits of free speech within that context.

The event drew contrasting reactions, with significant counter-protests taking place in Berlin and Cologne, where thousands rallied against far-right ideologies.

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 ->