The Daily Populous Sunday February 23rd, 2025 morning edition
Authored by forbes.com and submitted by Dry_Seaworthiness840

The world’s wealthiest billionaire and government efficiency chief Elon Musk once again voiced support in a post on X for Germany’s far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party ahead of the country’s Sunday general election, his latest show of support for the controversial party he has repeatedly championed.

Elon Musk frequently posts about Germany's far-right AfD party on X. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via ... [+] Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images

Musk posted, “AfD!” alongside German flag emojis, which he pinned to his X profile, on Saturday, one day before Germany’s general election. Musk also reposted a tweet from conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who said Saturday: “Here’s to AfD having a historic showing in tomorrow’s elections in Germany!! Let’s make the West great again.” The controversial party has seen a surge in support in recent years and is expected to have its best-ever showing at the polls on Sunday, when Germany will elect its new governing coalition.

Alternative for Germany, or Alternative für Deutschland, is a right-wing party that has centered anti-immigration and has called for mass deportations. The party also supports abandoning the Euro and halting climate action. The party has drawn controversy over allegations that some of its leaders’ remarks have echoed Nazi rhetoric, including European Parliament member Maximilian Krah, who last year said not all Nazi paramilitaries are “automatically criminals.” Party leader Björn Höcke has faced multiple fines for using Nazi slogans.

Musk has repeatedly promoted the party on his X account. “Only @AfD can save Germany,” Musk said on X last month. He also appeared at a virtual rally for the party in January, where he said the “future of civilization could hang in this election.” Musk told the crowd it is “good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” adding Germany places “too much focus on past guilt,” which was interpreted as a reference to the country’s Nazi past. Vice President JD Vance met with AfD leader Alice Wiedel earlier this month while in Munich, where he criticized European leaders for refusing to work with far-right parties.

Musk’s support for the AfD has drawn criticism from German chancellor Olaf Scholz, with whom Musk has feuded for weeks. Scholz has called Musk’s support for the AfD and other European far-right parties as “really disgusting,” which he said is “not good for the democratic development in all [of] the European Union.” Scholz slammed Musk’s remark about Germany focusing on past guilt, stating he is “so angry about Elon Musk intervening for the far right and Elon Musk also not acting adequately to this killing of so many Jews.” Musk has frequently lobbed insults at Scholz on X, in one post calling him an “incompetent fool.”

Who Is Leading The German Election Polls?

The AfD is currently polling in second place with about 20% support, according to the latest German election polls. Its polling numbers are about double what they were four years ago. Germany’s conservative Christian Democrats and Christian Social Union coalition are polling in first place with just under 30% support. Support for the Social Democrats, the current majority party, has tumbled in recent years, and the party is currently polling at 15%.

German Chancellor Calls Musk’s Support For European Far-Right ‘Really Disgusting’—Latest In Their War Of Words (Forbes)

The latest polls ahead of Germany’s snap election (Reuters)

AffectionateBread400 on February 23rd, 2025 at 00:45 UTC »

German here. He is obviously a nazi, if you haven't seen him making the hitler salute, maybe his support for germanys nazi party is enough to convince you... but probably not... The maga cult is not really into logic.

notiblecharacter on February 23rd, 2025 at 00:39 UTC »

God this walking anal fissure needs to get removed from human contact.

MovieAshamed4140 on February 23rd, 2025 at 00:25 UTC »

To my German friends: Look at the chaos he is causing in U.S.A. Do NOT Listen To Him!!!!!!!