Jakarta – After playing a role in Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, Elon Musk has shifted his attention to European politics, raising alarms among politicians across the continent.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO openly supports Germany’s right-wing AfD (Alternative for Germany) party, advocates for the release of Tommy Robinson, a British anti-Islam extremist imprisoned in the UK, and labels UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer a tyrant who “should be jailed.”
According to the Associated Press, European politicians are increasingly concerned about Musk’s activities. His social media platform, X, is filled with inflammatory language, including labeling politicians as “fools” and retweeting right-wing, anti-immigration accounts. Andrew Chadwick, a professor of political communication at Loughborough University, notes Musk’s use of X to disseminate his political views.
“We see Musk aligning himself with an international far-right movement. If you look at the people he supports, he’s assembling a diverse group of right-wing influencers, many with substantial followings, and using their claims to justify intervention in European politics,” Chadwick said.
Musk has also delved into German politics, where elections are set for February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left coalition government. On X, Musk declared, “Only AfD can save Germany,” and reiterated his support in the media outlet Welt am Sonntag, claiming Germany is on the brink of economic and cultural collapse. This weekend, Musk is scheduled to host a discussion on X with AfD leader Alice Weidel.
Scholz has emphasized the importance of staying calm amidst personal attacks but acknowledged Musk’s involvement in German politics as concerning. In his New Year’s message, Scholz stated that Germany’s path forward will not be dictated by the owner of a social media platform.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned about the dangers of unchecked power in the hands of tech billionaires and the destabilization it brings to democratic institutions.
“Who could have imagined, 10 years ago, that the owner of one of the world’s largest social networks would directly interfere in elections, including in Germany?” Macron asked.
Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis criticized Musk’s behavior as disturbing and far from amusing.
“One cannot simply use their platform, wealth, and connections to dictate how governments should be formed in every country. This is becoming increasingly dangerous,” he remarked.
Musk has also turned his focus to UK politics since the Labour Party’s election win, calling Starmer an “evil leader” of a “tyrannical nation.” Musk referenced historical child abuse cases in northern England, where groups of men, mostly of Pakistani origin, were prosecuted for abusing predominantly white girls. Musk accused Starmer of failing to prosecute the perpetrators during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions in the UK from 2008 to 2013—a claim Starmer strongly denies.
“I welcome sharp political debates, but they must be based on facts and truth, not lies,” Starmer said.
Musk’s X platform is currently under investigation by European authorities aiming to curb hate speech, misinformation, and toxic content. A spokesperson, Thomas Regnier, noted they would review whether Musk’s live-streamed interview with Weidel from the AfD gave preferential treatment to the party.
Jato senior analyst Felipe Munoz suggested Musk’s actions are risky but could yield results.
“Europe is shifting to the right. Look at what happened in the U.S. His bet on Trump paid off. He’s playing the same game in Europe,” Munoz explained.
