By Emma-Victoria Farr
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Elon Musk made a shock look throughout Germany’s AfD (Different fuer Deutschland) election marketing campaign occasion in Halle in jap Germany on Saturday, talking publicly in assist of the far proper social gathering for the second time in as many weeks.
Addressing a corridor of 4,500 folks alongside social gathering chief Alice Weidel, Musk spoke dwell by way of video hyperlink about preserving German tradition and defending the German folks.
“It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk mentioned.
Final week, the U.S. billionaire triggered uproar after he made a gesture that drew on-line comparisons to a Nazi salute throughout U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities.
On Saturday, he mentioned “children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents,” apparently referring to Germany’s Nazi previous.
“There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that,” he mentioned.
Musk, who spoke of suppression of speech beneath Germany’s authorities, has beforehand attacked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X.
For his half, Scholz on Tuesday mentioned he doesn’t assist freedom of speech when it’s used for extreme-right views.
Musk spoke in favour of voting for the far proper social gathering, saying: “I’m very excited for the AfD, I think you’re really the best hope for Germany () fight for a great future for Germany,” he instructed onlookers.
Weidel thanked him, mentioned the Republicans had been making America nice once more, and known as on her supporters to make Germany nice once more.
Earlier this month, Musk hosted Weidel in an interview on X, stirring concern about election meddling.
Regardless of winter climate, anti-far proper campaigners had been out in pressure on Saturday, with round 100,000 gathering round Berlin’s Brandenburg gate and as much as 20,000 in Cologne, together with folks of all ages carrying vibrant umbrellas.
