A few days after performing a greeting that resembled the Nazi salute twice, Elon Musk was once again involved in a controversy linked to the dark years of Hitler and National Socialism by stating that Germany must “move forward” regarding the “guilt of the past.”
The South African and one of the most influential men in Donald Trump's new government made a virtual appearance last Saturday during a campaign event of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), just a few days before the parliamentary elections on February 23 in the country. During the event, he shared the screen with Alice Weidel, the leader of the political organization, whom he described as the "best hope for Germany."
During his speech, Musk advocated for preserving German culture and values, as well as "protecting the German people." He stated that "children should not bear the guilt of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents," in what seemed to be a direct reference to the crimes committed during the Nazi regime. These words were met with applause by the approximately 4,500 attendees at the rally held in Halle.
The magnate also emphasized his rejection of what he described as a "multiculturalism that dilutes everything", stating that Germans should feel proud of their culture and traditions.
Strong reactions against Elon Musk
The president of Israel's official Holocaust memorial referred to the words as a "clear danger".
“Contrary to Elon Musk advice, the remembrance and acknowledgement of the dark past of the country and its people should be central in shaping the German society. Failing to do so is an insult to the victims of Nazism and a clear danger to the democratic future of Germany,” wrote Dani Dayan, curiously on X, the social network of the South African billionaire.
According to Politico, Musk’s words triggered a wave of international reactions. Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, expressed his concern through social media, describing the speech as disturbing. “The words we heard from the main actors at the AfD rally about ‘Greater Germany’ and ‘the need to forget German guilt for Nazi crimes’ sounded all too familiar and unsettling. Especially just hours before the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz,” Tusk wrote, referring to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp.
In turn, Lindsey Graham, a US senator and ally of Donald Trump, said on CNN that Musk's statements were unfortunate.
Miles protest in Germany against the rise of the far-right.
Tens of thousands of Germans took to the streets of Berlin and other cities on Saturday to protest against the rise of the far-right and anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the general elections on February 23rd.
At the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, a large crowd lit up their phone lights, blew whistles, and chanted anti-fascist songs, while in Cologne, participants carried banners attacking the AfD. Activists said they hoped the demonstration would also draw attention to other far-right parties in Europe and to the new government of the President of the United States, Donald Trump.