Elon Musk’s interest in AfD and Germany grows

Elon Musk’s interest in Germany and Europe is growing exponentially. He recently claimed that Germany’s only salvation is the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and attempted to persuade German voters to support the AfD in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.

According to Welt am Sonntag and Axel Springer, the media holding company that owns Die Welt, Musk is set to attend a business summit organized by Die Welt. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, heads of various DAX companies, and AfD Co-Chair Alice Weidel, the party’s candidate for chancellor, are also expected to attend the event on January 28.

Weidel recently met with Elon Musk in a chat room on X (formerly Twitter), where she controversially claimed that Adolf Hitler was a “communist.”

Silicon Valley billionaires, led by Elon Musk, have pushed for deregulation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrencies while supporting Donald Trump. Similarly, Musk and other tech billionaires aim to deregulate the tech market in Europe, opposing traditional regulatory frameworks. This aligns with the AfD’s advocacy for “cutting red tape” and deregulation, which is why Musk supports the party.

Politics embodied in Trump and the AfD: Deregulation

The primary motivation for Musk, David Sacks, and other Silicon Valley billionaires is the deregulation of large sectors, including AI and crypto industries. This not only maximizes their profits but also protects them from competition, particularly from China. These billionaires also seek deregulation in the energy sector, as AI data centers consume vast amounts of energy. Some US tech companies have even started building nuclear power plants to meet their electricity needs.

For years, tech billionaires like Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have clashed with EU institutions, which aim to impose restrictions on US internet giants. Musk, who has struggled to align with traditional EU elites, now looks to new political forces beyond the “old establishment” for support.

In a Welt am Sonntag article at the end of 2024, Musk praised the AfD for its readiness to “abolish state over-regulation” and “liberalize the market.” In this regard, Musk appears to have found an ally in Axel Springer and its CEO, Mathias Döpfner.

Musk’s Channel into Germany: Mathias Döpfner

Axel Springer is undergoing restructuring, having sold its classifieds and real estate businesses. The company now aims to expand beyond the German market, particularly in the USA, where it owns Politico and Business Insider. Döpfner, who has reportedly established close ties with former US Ambassador Richard Grenell, has been courting Musk since 2020 when Musk received the Axel Springer Award.

The Musk article in Welt am Sonntag was allegedly published at Döpfner’s request. Despite distancing himself from the AfD amid criticism, Döpfner has vowed to “continue to resolutely open up the space for what can be said.”

Former US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, who faced political isolation due to his association with the far right, has also supported Musk’s stance against the German “establishment media.” Grenell criticized Der Spiegel for its “enemy of the people” cover about Musk, accusing the magazine of anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism.

Axel Springer’s role in glamorizing the AfD

Despite Döpfner’s cautious distance from the AfD, Axel Springer continues to work toward integrating the AfD into the mainstream. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, CDU and Green Party leaders Friedrich Merz and Robert Habeck, FDP chairman Christian Lindner, BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht, and AfD spokesperson Alice Weidel are expected to attend the Economic Summit on January 28.

The absence of Die Linke (the Left Party) suggests that Springer is selectively inviting parties represented in the Bundestag. Regarding Weidel’s participation, Springer stated that a vote was held last year on whether AfD representatives should be invited, with a majority in favor.

Heads of major DAX companies, including Allianz, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Siemens, E.ON, RWE, BMW, Porsche, and Rheinmetall, will also attend the summit. Axel Springer claims the meeting offers “a unique opportunity to give momentum to the future” ahead of the Bundestag elections.

Integration of the AfD into the transatlantic front

For Musk and his allies, both political and economic interests are at stake. A faction within the AfD favors rapprochement with Russia. Götz Kubitschek, a leader of Germany’s far right, wrote in Sezession on December 31, 2024, that the AfD had been “alienated” by “the West, transatlantic paternalism, NATO, and the cultural domination of the hegemon.”

Kubitschek argued that Musk’s support for the AfD strengthens factions within the party that align with his agenda. He noted that while the AfD has not received support from Russia, it is gaining backing from Washington. Kubitschek suggested that concerns about the AfD’s transatlantic connections are diminishing, especially as Musk advocates against “demonizing” the party.

However, Kubitschek acknowledged that voices critical of the US or advocating for closer ties with Russia are likely to diminish in influence. Musk’s support for the AfD should thus be seen as part of the transatlantic integration of a segment of the German far right.