Why has Musk's op-ed endorsing Germany's far-right AfD party drawn Berlin's ire? | DW News

[@stompysnake8233]

American citizens speaking well of german parties is interference, but German citizens/newspapers criticizing Trump before the US election is not interference. Ok.

[@michaelmusialike616]

Thank you!

[@siewheilou399]

He made sure money worked to his aim; like Uncle Sam sent agents and machines to interfere with communications in Eastern elections. Wait, those radar and jammer planes took off from NATO airports.

[@DudeNoEdge]

Political donations, AKA lobbying, is very different than just being vocal. The EU has much harsher anti lobbying laws than murica.

[@siewheilou399]

@@DudeNoEdge Are Europeans immune? Look at the Dutch, they jailed the victims of Mac agents and soldiers, the agents and soldiers even burn Netherlands flag, all were sent home without charges.

[@birdstwin1186]

@@DudeNoEdge Yet he wasnt talking about that at all. You are dishonest.

[@josezerpa8177]

I’m going to download this interview and watch it in March 2025 to see how it has aged .

[@NYCJoeBlack]

Maybe you’ll see the corruption that is apparent to all with at least two brain cells!

[@tashanmann05]

Trump can say the same of UK's Starmer,Sadiq Khan and Canada's Trudeau's endorsement of Kamala Harris...such cry babies.

[@shanghaichica]

Didn’t he get endorsed by Farage

[@Mr.E-z2f]

Trudeau never endorsed Kamal Harris. He made a comment about women’s rights in the USA 😂

[@andrewjones-productions]

Prime Minister Starmer did not endorse Kamala Harris.

[@elkanaajowi9093]

Labor (UK) even sent official to campaign in the US! Rules for you and not for me, I suppose.

[@InGODweTrust007]

​@@Mr.E-z2fTrudeau was against Trump all the way since day 1

[@rohitn1080]

If Obama endorses a political party in other counties (for example Canada) then there is no issue but if a Conservative does the same then there is ssue.

[@moxellex]

well, Elon doesn't know or care an eff abt politics, he's just doing it b/c he wants to stear interest away from the fact that he faces fines for building his goddamn factory in an area where he didn't have all the go aheads..

[@KC-sunshine]

When? Before an election?

[@thezu9250]

When has Obama ever done that? When has Obama spent MILLIONS donating to political entities? Give me a break.

[@maryrose4712]

@@KC-sunshine Obama got involved Before the UK voted on Brexit, and spoke out against them leaving the EU. Remember?

[@M.Đ-z4u]

But left is always right 😂

[@hansmarheim7620]

As long as the AfD still is a legal party in Germany he just exercise his freedom of speech. I will defend that. If we gag free speech democracy is lost.

[@happymelon7129]

They are not far right , just people want the country back to order. Musk also want it , so he can make more $

[@EduardoNomas-zv4ms]

Democracy is already lost. Have you not seen how all political parties stand by the same core values? And no, those core values are not “freedom of speech” (see how Russia Today was banned from day 1 of the Ukraine war), “human rights” (see how Germany is supplying weapons to help with the genocide of Palestinians), or any other “noble” value. It’s all about money. We don’t live in a democracy, we live in an oligarchy.

[@MoireFly]

"just" is quite the loaded term there. He's a social media platform owner, promotes misinformation, will also hold an (upcoming) government position and worse, one with potentially considerable power over policy. He's quite able to abuse his power. And it's right to call out to others and warn them that this isn't OK; just because he's rich and self-serving doesn't mean we all need to bow to his whims.

[@hansmarheim7620]

@MoireFly I don't like Musk. He is not a very democratic guy. He is anti democratic. But i will defend his right to express his views as long as they stay within the framework of the law. German Law as well as US law and international law.

[@Solarpunker]

The NSDAP was also a legal party

[@testaccount1563]

I don't support AFD but find it hypocritical since most European leaders, news channels and experts wanted Trump to lose. Europe has an opinion or interferes in other democracies constantly

[@Michael-q1h2w]

@@testaccount1563 we have also been very guilty of that in the U.S. I would also remember Trump's stance on NATO, Ukraine, and Putin

[@testaccount1563]

@@Michael-q1h2w every western country, that's the reason China made inroads in Asia, Africa

[@jecabrer]

​@@Michael-q1h2wyes, but the US preaches freedom of speech.

[@Michael-q1h2w]

@@jecabrer preaches, yes, but sometimes it's just lipservice. Freedom of speech is often shut down by other people's speech. Then, we get nowhere

[@InGODweTrust007]

The European Union needs America's help but yet don't respect American values on. 🤷‍♂️

[@martytube821]

The hypocrisy is crazy on the channel!

[@truetech4158]

The sociopathy of reaching out and grabbing em and saying can't help himself and the creepers who try to normalize sociopathic behavioral patterns. Good people on both sides he said after a musclecar mowed down a woman at a white nationalist rally..and look, its a self driving musk. Self driving stockholm syndrome..

[@Elfdustify]

No hypocrisy here whatsoever -- but to the brainwashed it may appear as such.

[@dotmarceo]

It really is.

[@truetech4158]

@@Elfdustify My comment appears to have been deleted and I didnt delete it. Must've been deleted by one of those musk fan wannabe billionaires that fell from a very traditionalized womb with a job at socialengineeringtube.

[@ManuelGonzalez-se4vz]

It’s called freedom of speech. Remember when you were Western?

[@G0nxsf]

Wrong

[@truetech4158]

Hushmoney isn't freedom of speech. Ask Epstein's Neighbor what happened to his long time best friend nextdoor neighbor, and listen to the sound that hushmoney makes from the creepy horse's mouth.

[@TheActualFuckingSun]

I guessing giving political donations to foreign parties is considered free speech

[@sharonstone-bh1zp]

I guess one could ask why England's labour party sent volunteers to the US in order to assist Biden's campaign, or why so many European leaders made a point of bashing Trump before his election? Seems objections are raised only if it negatively effects the left, but not the right. Also there is the question of free speech.

[@flyingThunderGod]

Well said

[@mikepost8965]

They weren't there on their capacity as labour party members. They went in a private capacity. Plenty of MAGA money in so called british think tanks and social media busy interfering in british elections. Don't even have to be coy about it these days

[@sharonstone-bh1zp]

@mikepost8965 exactly, as is Musk

[@hape3862]

Musk is neither a political party nor a political leader. Have you heard a European billionaire commenting on the US election - using his own social media platform and his hundreds of millions of followers?

[@DudeNoEdge]

Political donations, AKA lobbying, is very different than just being vocal. The EU has much harsher anti lobbying laws than murica.

[@natarajkoduvayurrajappa2611]

Why is EU talking about elections in non EU countries???what goes around comes around....

[@David-bh1rn]

I can't think of any German billionaire endorsing the democrats or republicans

[@Michael-q1h2w]

@@natarajkoduvayurrajappa2611 I think Germany is part of the EU

[@ronald3836]

@@Michael-q1h2w EU talks about the elections in Georgia, for example.

[@Michael-q1h2w]

@@ronald3836 oh

[@Hongkongnyc]

Why is writing and sharing one's opinion "election interference"?

[@KC-sunshine]

Free opinion is right. The foreign inflence of a country's politics, especially with huge donations to a party during a election, is blatantly wrong.

[@Hongkongnyc]

@@KC-sunshine Did Musk give them a huge donation?

[@IrrationalCharm]

because he's a multibillionaire that has a monopoly on Twitter and has a lot of influence on that platform. He is not your average joe.

[@runna-x5h]

​@@IrrationalCharmso he's not allowed to express his opinion?

[@Hongkongnyc]

Ok so unlike everyone else on earth, Elon Musk isn’t allowed to communicate his opinion on German politics?

[@beckyumphrey2626]

Elon getting involved is like DW bashing Trump!!!!

[@DudeNoEdge]

Political donations, AKA lobbying, is very different than just being vocal. The EU has much harsher anti lobbying laws than murica.

[@Julia-Richter]

@@beckyumphrey2626 Ähhhh...no, it's not.

[@maryrose4712]

@@DudeNoEdge Yea, they just do it quietly with NGO's.

[@maryrose4712]

@@Julia-Richter Ahhhh...yes it is. Sorry Julia, works both ways.

[@bulthaosen1169]

​@@DudeNoEdgethen don't do to others when you don't want the same thing done to you. Mr hypocrite.

[@EnRico_0]

Given Musk's insanity I wouldn't trust anyone he supports

[@joem0088]

He has big investments in Germany. He has every right to voice his opinions.

[@ronald3836]

Funnily enough, the AfD is still against those investments.

[@JeDxDeVu]

Billionaire who invests billions in this country can’t voice his opinion but you guys can? 😂😂😂. Commi logic

[@SchnellerSchmetterling]

Was voicing political opinion written in his investment contract?

[@lt8395]

If what he said is election meddling then shouldn't this channel keep its trap shut on Brexit and all manner of other nations business? Or is it only election meddling when the Right does it?

[@hape3862]

No, when Billionaires do it.

[@mikepost8965]

@lt8395 foreign countries were not writing Op Ed pieces in America newspapers. Of course politicians and media were commenting on which candidate would be better for world order and their economies. They could hardly be expected not to comment on matters affecting their country. That is totally different from interfering in American politics

[@marianam8643]

If you happen to be a self made, competent, rich, obvious genius then stating your opinion is wrong :). Bc really, who wants to hear what people like that have to say. We need to hear from mediocre politicians and experts. Now their opinion is what we need to be listening to :)

[@ragnarruckus2825]

Are you against: record high energy costs, unsafe streets, the flight of capital and skilled labor out of the country? Then you must be “far right”

[@thezu9250]

What does that have to do with Musk? Hes all for dismantling the economic support structure developed countries have.

[@artiefakt4402]

Lmao... wait, did the far right that led to Brexit improved any of that in the UK ? Or was all their populism just a pile of lies meant to persuade gullible people to make a decision ? Now, we see Felon Musk rooting for Farage, the conman who pushed UK to leave the EU and who then took no responsibility for it... and Donald will do the same when he's going to ruin the US.

[@SchnellerSchmetterling]

What skilled labor? Out of Germany?😂

[@sino-wt7pu]

No, but libertarian billionaires are just supporting far-right authoritarianism out of for-profit self-interest ! Libertarians dislike the power of democratic institutions. People like Musk don't like the the EU regulating them or anyone standing in the way of the unlimited power of money. That's why they support those parties. I support constitutional democracies, social security, worker rights, civil rights and public healthcare, all things some libertarian billionaires don't seem to like ! ( Apart from that far-right authoritarianism is a no-go to me anyway. Nothing will make me vote for it. One look at MAGA is enough. 😉)

[@unconventionalideas5683]

Yes, but that means I am against the AfD because their “solutions” will literally worsen every single one of those issues. Renewable energy is the main way to bring down energy prices and fossil fuels will likely never be affordable again by comparison, for example.

[@artemvaleev947]

Why he cannot just express his opinion? You people keep talking about the free speech….

[@LLAALALA]

At this point what is far right even mean, anything the MSM don't like, any party that actually want to look out for its now citizens first?

[@marvinlomo5845]

Billionaires can not have an opinion?

[@generalgeo9468]

They sure can! But when they have business interests and conveniently express opinions that support their business interests, that's not free speech anymore; it's lobbying. Hope this helps!

[@ManuelSalasM]

@@generalgeo9468 lobbying is legal in the EU, in fact it is the only thing that happens in Brussels. What is absurd is the fact that saying Germans first in Germany is called extreme and far right, when it is common sense

[@marvinlomo5845]

Common sense appears to be uncommon these days.

[@beckyumphrey2626]

Free speech is powerful!!!

[@DudeNoEdge]

Political donations, AKA lobbying, is very different than just being vocal. The EU has much harsher anti lobbying laws than murica.

[@truetech4158]

Socio billionaires are FAMOUS for deleting comments that other people publicly posted.

[@truetech4158]

Hmm, a billionaire with selective hearing deleted my previous reply to your comment i just noticed..

[@M.Đ-z4u]

​@@DudeNoEdge no, EU is the same

[@pierremarel]

We do have an equivalent international French version of DW; it is called France 24 and - don’t be surprised - they display the same ideology and political bias.

[@AaronKaewprapai-qv7bc]

LOL. Like Romania, Moldova and Germany, if you cannot win, blame foreign agent meddling.

[@SchnellerSchmetterling]

Who is not winning?

[@SuperEtab]

America (+allies) gave Germany its freedom, and the American power vacuum arguably holds Western Europe together. America is democratic, anyone can participate in politics and everyone can comment on American politics and politics of any other country. Elon has done a lot for Germany and believes in the German people.

[@InGODweTrust007]

@@SuperEtab constitutional republic and why a constitutional republic is better than a (D) mocrcy it's because a constitutional republic is a set of laws that is above all men where a (D) mocracy a few people can change the laws to anoint themselves as gods.

[@salsanchez2114]

Musk has huge investments in Germany. He wants lower energy costs, less crime, lower taxes, and less regulation. Only the AFD is promising to offer those results. Why shouldn't Musk support a party that will help his business interests?

[@generalgeo9468]

Yeah, of course he supports the party that will weaken labor rights, lower corporate tax rates, lower environmental standards and always cave to his business interest, despite the interest of the German people. That support is therefore not just free speech, it is lobbying. Lobbying the Axel Springer Verlag clearly also does for its own interest. But should those two decide the outcome of our elections?

[@ronald3836]

If the AfD had a say, all subsidies for Tesla would be stopped immediately.

[@SchnellerSchmetterling]

See it’s all about his business interests! Coming frm d horse’s mouth itself 😂

[@ronald3836]

@@SchnellerSchmetterling Supporting the AfD is not at all in Musk/Tesla's interest. I think Musk hardly knows what the AfD wants and just thinks they are like MAGA. In reality, they have very different views in many areas.

[@SchnellerSchmetterling]

@@ronald3836 i just pointed out what the OP said or claimed about Musk supporting the Afd party thus his “meddling” in Germany’s political affairs ✌️

[@d.sertsedesta4106]

I think Elon has all the right to give his opinion. If people agree with opinion, and vote for afd, that’s alright. The election interference narrative here looks in fear of democratic election.

[@berlinorama]

Of course he has a right to his opinion. The question is why Die Welt is giving him a platform. He has plenty of platforms of his own.

[@faar2faar]

It's funny. Man says what so many of us are not allowed too and he is meddling. No, our voices are finally being heard whether you like it or not :) Democracy over bureaucracy.

[@whiteeyedsh4rk697]

Rather he is right or wrong, I dont think he has any place in german politics.

[@mitchhills4747]

Nor in British politics either but still he meddles...

[@EduardoNomas-zv4ms]

You sure? His megafactory did mingle with german politics and as far as I know he managed to bypass several german laws. Bow down to your masters, germans.

[@johnglance3197]

We all that the absolute right to express our opinion about absolutely everything.

[@randallstephens1680]

Oh, I'm so sorry Elon Musk's opinion is such an inconvenience for you.

[@markopodganjek845]

Musk opinion is just one man opinion. What a strange and non democratic reaction of German government. By them citizen Musk shouldnt have his opinion and expressing it publicly.

[@maryrose4712]

@markopodganjek. The Europeans are ruled by Hate Speech laws, thank God for the 1st Amendment!!

[@87hiten]

So when u call Modi a Fascist isn't that election Interference? Stop interfering on others and they will stop interfering on yours... Haha!! I hope the AFD wins big

[@rpc1605]

You can not be MORE WRONG Richard! Farage and the AFD will be successful in their campaigns. The electorate is fed up with WOKEISM AND ELITIST POLITICS.

[@DommTom]

The AfD will never rule Germany. Nobody wants to work with a party that is so agressive and anti-establishement. Mrs. Weidel even denies Germany having a constitution which usually only the Reichsbürgers claim.

[@happymelon7129]

But DW on Georgia is OK ?

[@myhash4all]

What is wrong with Elon musk comments? I feel he spoke accurately

[@Bee-c2h]

because you are not sick like the others :)

[@truetech4158]

@@Bee-c2h The sociopathy of reaching out and grabbing em and saying can't help himself and the creepers who try to normalize sociopathic behavioral patterns. Good people on both sides he said after a musclecar mowed down a woman at a white nationalist rally..and look, its a self driving musk. Self driving stockholm syndrome..

[@truetech4158]

@@Bee-c2h Imagine voting for epstein's neighbor, and either not knowing about his creepy history, or not even caring about it?

[@poiuttyrfghj8474]

German politicians and celebrities comment on US politics all the time. Get over it, hypocrites

[@songnianzhang366]

Double standard, DW

[@DG-ie5ip]

DW : Cannot stand any person that is Not Left politically !

[@Junyo]

No. The media report on FACTS and right-wing people are reporting LIES.

[@Naturshortvids]

I support AFD For their flatform .1. Lower taxes 2. Nuclear Power Energy 3.Border control for immigration . Other parties are afraid of AFD most of them are into GERMAN TV including DW KZbin. I suggest to watch Bloomberg television interviewed of Alice Weidel.

[@solitadent09]

It is called democracy he cannot do that in China or else ….. so make public involve and understanding the situation is the best road to democracy. How the democracy system will work …..

[@downtoearth1950]

Wake up! Normal is not far right.

[@fjdkfdfjdf33]

fascism is always fascism.

[@InglésconRobert2025]

The leftists will never stop using “far-right” to label their enemies. It is their way of calling us Hitlerites.

[@justinlassiter7671]

its not far left either

[@Michael-q1h2w]

@@downtoearth1950 normal isn't anywhere near Elon Musk

[@Kim-J312]

Elon is far from normal

[@Fuuntag]

Guy spoke his mind, what’s the big deal? Not allowed to have opinions anymore?

[@hoppes979]

If Elon musk endorsed CDU CSU OR SPD , then it would not have been interference

[@MattH-cq3cs]

….that‘s not the point

[@MoireFly]

Of course it would have been interference. There's a long and generally very well followed tradition in all friendly democracies that people in political government positions don't meddle with each others elections, in particular refraining from campaigning for a specific party on the other side. This isn't some new rule; it's been followed for decades at least. Worse, Musk's campaign is harmful to social cohesion (much as Trump's was). Regardless of his policies and right vs. left-wing or pro-rich vs. anti-rich or whatever positioning, the _way_ they're chasing power is harmful. They're one of the links in the chain that's pulling society down by sowing needless division. It's also a bad idea for controllers of platforms to attempt such influence, unfortunately, the rich and powerful aren't generally as circumspect. Musk is the embodiment of corporate media, but instead of people seeing that; he's creeping ever further into the role of Commander-in-Chief-in-all-but name. He's not your friend; he's just a selfish con-man. He'll happily shout race-baiting lib-triggering slogans to get the US citizens to be so distracting by fighting each other they won't bother noticing that even while he claims to be against e.g. immigration he'll actually push for _more_ of it as long as it serves him. This isn't too different even from Trump himself, who claimed to want to build a wall, but somehow never found time or money for that - but did find much _more_ money to cut taxes for himself and other super-rich. Or how Trump just this past year pretended to want to crack down on immigration yet actually torpedoed a very-right wing immigration control bill; he _intentionally_ acted to _increase_ uncontrolled immigration just so he could keep the topic in the national attention come election time.

[@lewis123417]

Since when is commenting on foreign affairs "election interference" 😂

[@jimamar]

Germany is now a pale shadow of its former glory.

[@Surfing1709]

That can happen. But Germany has the power to return. We did it several times (Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt a.D) has mad Germany very early a member of the big 4 back then in the world. Yes this time is much diffrent. But ups and downs belong to life. Germany will not die! The world becomes darker in total. A Ray of light will at some point change the world again. It has been like that for centuries.

[@Nuno-y9j]

Far right? you will never see or hear DW utter the phrase far left nor right, This is because they are on the far left and they exist as a political think tank. So everyone is right of them. But to push their ideology further everyone is therefore referred to as far right.

[@joemoore8047]

Mertz should probably google "Steele Dossier" "2016" "Clinton Campaign"

[@georgemchedlishvili7226]

0:25 - German, Lithuanian, Polish MPs come to Georgia, stand with the protesters and shout "Don't give up!", say same things in scores of interviews.... and then German politicians consider a newspaper article an interference?! It's not "double standards", it's shamelessness!

[@Reza19691348]

They call it "interference" lol .... fragile crying babies

[@greedyyawgoo5635]

Didnt the UK send a group to help Kamala? We the EU, Canada, & UK alone allow to influence the voters.

[@InGODweTrust007]

Correct. German as well

[@shantanudalvi1563]

DW getting taste of their own medicine. DW also meddling in elections around the world in the name of journalism and free speech.

[@EduardoNomas-zv4ms]

The issue here is that nobody listens to DW but lots of people are exposed to Musk. So that makes then nervous.

[@Michael-q1h2w]

Don't let Musk interfere with German politics like he did here in the U.S.

[@shambo-rm8ql]

Cope harder or cry harder

[@marleyplumb4562]

Exactly.

[@M.Đ-z4u]

Don't cry

[@JohnSmith-ux3tt]

So, Beyonce is allowed to "interfere" but Musk isn't? Because.... reasons.

[@Michael-q1h2w]

@@JohnSmith-ux3tt Beyonce isn't the wealthiest person on earth and doesn't threaten sitting politicians with primaries

[@ronald2811]

I don't see the problem. Musk just ventilated his opinion (something wrong with that?) and I think, as a Dutchman, that Musk is right in his opinion.

[@lva1595]

Would it also be okay for you if Musk had an opinion that you do not share and his aim was to fight the AfD by all means possible?

[@elkanaajowi9093]

When labor not only endorse a party in the US but also sent campaign officials, it was fine, saving democracy. But when a private citizen does it, everyone is worried about democracy. Lunatics!

[@AlpsMountains]

BECAUSE ELON CARES ABOUT TESLA CARS NOT ABOUT GERMANY!

[@nighthunter3039]

He doesn't even care about those AFD is against electric cars and things climate change is a lie.

[@maryrose4712]

@AlpsMountains. And Germany cares about selling cars, not about EU farmers. Mercosur deal will benefit Germany and hurt all EU farmers. See how that works?

[@fabianabongo6284]

Since Germany chose to go green

[@JeDxDeVu]

Germany didn’t choose to go green. The government did. Most of us despise the government.

[@drmorcoch9338]

i don't care about germany. until germany catches up with its required share in nato... the russians can do whatever they want with germany

[@marceloeguino]

Why shouldn’t he be able to voice his opinion?

[@rescuerhonda0164]

Because he's talking out the wrong hole 😂

[@scoobydo-m1v]

😂 Far right my foot. Election interference 😂 is not when the opposing political parties get together to prevent the will of the people being implemented vis-a-vis Thüringen And Sachsen

[@happymelon7129]

But this is so funny when 01af talk about ..."rational" after what happen these few years. O1af: "The future of Germany will not be decided by those who shout the loudest, but by the vast majority of rational and decent people."

[@herman9255]

It's the same as saying the current German govt is screwed up, which is no brainer.

[@justinlassiter7671]

this is silly.."Musk trying to influence vote"...both sides do that. Harris had movie stars attempting to influence voters.

[@KC-sunshine]

Those movie stars are Americans, not foreigners.

[@hans8201]

Foreign influence is mostly never acceptable

[@VillaRustica-uv4fd]

Don't forget Harris also had UK Labour Party activists campaigning for her in the US. Such hypocrisy.

[@goranrajcevic5550]

@@KC-sunshine everyone and their dog in the EU was endorsing Kamala

[@KC-sunshine]

@goranrajcevic5550 but not everyone can destroy a country

[@jimmy2times]

It's free speach. Everybody is free to have an opinion and to express it. And yes, he is right.

[@peteconradjr.8605]

It's hilarious how it always look like they want to spit when they say "Trump."

[@provetanimalhealth3367]

“”Far Right “?? They do not have a name.Give some respect,They are also Germans ?

[@garikaprasanth9890]

AFd. Can. Protect. On. Germany..🙏Amen..on🇩🇪.Jesus.name

[@patrickcowan8701]

I watched Alice weidel on Bloomberg. I did not see anything that came across as far right. Logical yes.

[@lva1595]

Why should Weidel portray her party as far right? The reason she was elected as party leader is to give the AfD a different image that has little to do with the actual content of the party and the people in the second and third row.

[@firstsecond9569]

The fact that tgey are trying to silence someone expressing a sincerely held belief shows just how far Germany has already slid and adds credibility to his claim

[@xy6915]

Extreme left DW is labeling others far right.. what a irony

[@DommTom]

DW isn't left.

[@SchwarzerSturm1871]

@@DommTom right... They're left globalists

[@BatsAwesomeIn2030]

how is someone voicing an opinion is called medling, celebrities etc everyone does that. I am not an AFD supporter and aganist them, but that doesn't mean we disallow free speech and free opinions.

[@laurencesrinivasan6607]

Elon Musk has a right to voice his opinion. He has invested heavily in German auto industry, and he’s a major world player. Of course the media hates it. They hate free speech. And dull talking heads are irritated that someone disagrees with them! American democracy rules!

[@SchnellerSchmetterling]

Who said Murica created or developed democracy?

[@oliverstianhugaas7493]

Thankfully we have the government telling us what to believe about this.

[@epursimuove1633]

Germans out of all people should be okay with outside meddling. After what they’ve done

[@mshmsh813]

Isn't AfD a party that people around the world (rich or poor, influencer or not) can speak freely about their support? lets flip it. if Elon uses exactly the same words supporting for the green party, is that still middling? doomed if you do, doomed if you don't

[@Avatar_2025]

Didn't EU meddle in Elections around the world including that in Georgia, Venezuela to mention 2? It is quite interesting moment to experience.

[@potaatti1]

How did the EU meddle in these elections? You must have meant Russia.

[@Avatar_2025]

@potaatti1 were they not supporting opposition politicians?Elon has yet to support one figure in Europe.

[@myhounddog]

😂 your penalizing a man because he's rich and very intelligent😂😂😂 yeah you're right intelligence and common sense should be feared because it represents the truth❤

[@stephanl2409]

I was considering voting for Merz but his comment is hyperbolic. Musk giving his opinion is not at all "election interference." If he actully changed things on X to support the Afd or something like that then that would be election interference.

[@cdngrrleh]

It IS election interference. He amplifies AfD content all of the time on X.

[@corynelson8912]

"Far right"? Why not just call them, "the opposition"

[@hape3862]

Because they aren't "the opposition", they are enemies of our state and our democratic order, that more than "opposition".

[@maeshellewest-davies7904]

The conservative parties are the opposition. The AFD is further right.

[@MoireFly]

Because that would be misleading?

[@TTr3e]

Musk is playing economics based politics. His aims: 1. He knows he/Tesla had lost a lot of potential clients with liberal views after he supported Trump. This is true for EU other democratic regions. He is also facing competition in EU from German carmakers, for example BMW sold more cars in Europe than Tesla for the past quarters of 2024. 2. He knows he lost those clients for good so he is trying to win the other flank, which is the growing right wing. For example AFD supporters in Germany. By aligning himself with AFD supporters he hopes they will buy his cars. 3. He would love for AFD to win, because he wants bad image for Germany. If AFD wins, this will have negative effect on Germany, especially in the view of democratic world. This aspect could sway potential customers across the democratic countries to buying Tesla cars instead of German cars bringing him back the customers he lost by supporting Trump. So if you are AFD fan, think twice about buying Teslas, rather support your own car makers, because Musk is just manipulating you. And if you are for Democracy and stong Germany, then the choice is clear - avoid Musk, Tesla and the AFD altogether. Another issue is that Musk is just making and advertisement for himself and his cult by propagating these "radical views". The media is constantly falling for this trick making even more content about him and AFD. Just look at the hashtags on this video ... why DW?

[@seanrhone5306]

Interference by writing an op-ed? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means!

[@mikerisher4325]

As an American I’m more worried about the far left .

[@ShotgunMessiah]

Musk has an opinion just as many people do . I wouldn't necessarily take offense but take interest in Musk and why he supports them .

[@john_doe_not_found]

Musk is focused on Mars and the population of Earth. Big picture ideas. The left leaning parties have ushered in declining birthrates by sacrificing the nuclear family and societal values in general. So expect Musk to be against DEI and anything that would impact fertility and demographics negatively. Specifically as to what happened with one of his children in the California school system, Musk looked at the effect of the shift to the Left and decided to take action.

[@interestingvideos2963]

DW why do you interfere with what people around the world think, did you really forgot about free speach that people around the world have the right to say what they think? DW are you that gone already?

[@lva1595]

The same people who have no problem with Musk's direct interference in the German election campaign have been complaining for years about other people's influence on politics. How does that fit together?

[@ShotgunMessiah]

Musk wants the world to succeed not fail . As a business man there is more money in peace and vibrant economies.

[@heeheewoowoo]

You are brainwashed, he doesn’t know Germany.

[@Jackolivierbo]

It’s the right of every one to support a party. 🎉 And he is probably right.

[@JsckSzx]

Germany is nominally independent but in reality, is controlled by USA . Its government serves the interests of the US rather than its own citizens.

[@lewis123417]

Put your tinfoil hat back on

[@EduardoNomas-zv4ms]

True, Germany is just an american colony with 40.000 american forces deployed in its territory. Germans don’t like acknowledging that they are very much controlled by the USA. The USA says jump, germans ask “how high”.

[@shambo-rm8ql]

If DW can have biased and dishonest views on Indian politics why can’t Elon have honest views on German politics

[@lucyfrye6723]

So what I got from this, and I hope I am wrong, is that Musk was approached by the PUBLISHER, not the newspaper itself. Not only would that diminish the blame on Musk, more importantly it raises big question marks about freedom of the press in Germany. Even Fox would think twice and push back if Murdoch ordered them to do this. Also, the editor quit her job. Thank God that you find people with a conscience pretty much everywhere.

[@generalgeo9468]

Axel Springer Verlag (the company that owns Die Welt which published the op-ed) also owns Bild, the most extremist and populist newspaper in the country. So yeah, their interests are clearly also on display here.

[@jakebe4915]

US President Elect Musk must wait until January 20. Shame on him.

[@nappybiscuit]

He was not born in the U.S., so he can not be president. Now, he has paid over $40 billion in income tax in the past 3 years, so he does get a say as to how it is spent.

[@alexanderbSpeaker]

They are not far right … DW you price tag is 0,99 Pfennig

[@KoopstaKlicca]

Please, Germany, do better than us Americans at keeping Musk from meddling in your affairs!

[@hamzamahmood9565]

Because opinions are illegal in Germany

[@rorytribbet6424]

As much as I disagree with Musks recent takes and some other things he does… publishing an article is not election meddling, it’s free speech. Making the Germans sound like Russia right now.

[@mikek3124]

No… Trump world is not worried about the AFD.

[@stevendefehr4393]

Let’s hope musk’s endorsements can help Germans in the near future ❣️we in Canada are aware of Germanys rapid industrial decline 😢 Cheers from Canada 🍻

[@nighthunter3039]

Our industrial decline is because of Musk lol... its cause he doesn't pay the tax he is due, misstreads employers etc.

[@hape3862]

Germany's rapid decline?!?! Are you delusional? But ok, keep underestimating us, fair enough.

[@truetech4158]

I'm an atheist myself in Canada and want nothing to do with Epstein's Neighbor nor his enablers.

[@gazpachopolice7211]

"Opinions are like backside-holes; everyone has one" Musk has an opinion on every topic under the sun.

[@nnaemekaemmanuel571]

The so called analysts is looking from a paper 😂😂😂😂😂

[@gepal7914]

Alice Weidel has said she is a Libetarian. Musk is a Libertarian. So, naturally he supports her.

[@bluechurch776]

I'm sick of Musk, he has no business in DC. He has motivations, let's be real.

[@TaataGeo]

Keep crying leftist !!!! Last time i checked he’s an American

[@sweetstreetcats]

Luckily, your political heroes don't, do they? (Talking about being real) 😂😂

[@mohsenunknown]

So you decided to choose the weirdest footages of Musk while mentioning that he wrote an op-ed. you call yourself journalists?

[@61amaral]

I think he like a lot of people see the evil in the world and wants to do something about it!

[@potaatti1]

And supporting AfD does that??

[@bojanopacic9601]

Omg, what those guys are speaking about. Everyone should be interested in politics, and take part in it as well.

[@marca7542]

I love how all these anti-establishment commenters are adoring on Musk… a Billionaire - part of the establishment, who doesn’t care about the common person lol! Humans are such simpletons sometimes…

[@flyingThunderGod]

So are you

[@KoopstaKlicca]

The pseudo anti-establishment attitude is so annoying. It's like when people say Trump is anti establishment... He's a rich real estate investor who was already president once... How can that be anti-establishment lol

[@flyingThunderGod]

@@KoopstaKlicca Kamala was rich too. All presidential candidates are elites.

[@runna-x5h]

Being rich doesn't automatically make you part of the estab!!shment,he got rich dodging taxes not collecting them