Dec 20, 2024 - Business

Musk endorses Germany's far-right AfD party

Sareen Habeshian

Elon Musk is seen in the U.S. Capitol after a meeting with Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., while on the Hill to talk about President-elect Donald Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency," on Thursday, December 5, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) — Elon Musk is seen in the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 5. Photos: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Elon Musk seemingly endorsed the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Friday.

The big picture: The X owner has used his social media platform to promote his own ideologies. Since gaining more influence in the incoming Trump administration, the billionaire CEO appears to be exercising that power over politics in the U.S. and abroad.

Musk has shown recent support for other European right-wing populist politicians, including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and British politician Nigel Farage, who is big Trump champion in the U.K.

Driving the news: "Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk posted on X.

His message was in response to a post from German right-wing influencer Naomi Seibt, criticizing conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz.

Context: Germany will hold a snap election in February, after a center-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed.

AfD became the first far-right party this year to win a regional election in Germany since World War II.

What to watch: The party last month said it would throw out three of its members who were arrested on suspicion of having joined an "extremist" paramilitary group.

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Musk endorses Germany's far-right AfD party

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