SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk speaks live via a video transmission during the election campaign launch rally of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party as AfD supporters wave German flags on January 25, 2025 in Halle, Germany.
"All the people who were shrugging and equivocating over Elon and whether he was aligning with Nazi, far-right forces should be launched into the sun," wrote one observer.
Billionaire Elon Musk made virtual appearance at a Saturday campaign event for the far-right Alternative for Germany party—known by the initials AfD—ahead of a snap federal election in Germany next month. The campaign appearance comes less than a week after Musk was accused of performing a Nazi salute twice on stage at a post-inauguration celebration for U.S. President Donal Trump.
"A nazi speaking at a nazi rally. It's really not deeper than that," wrote the independent journalist Marisa Kabas on Saturday.
Musk has endorsed the AfD, known for it's strong anti-immigrant stance, and earlier this month hosted AfD co-leader Alice Weidel—who was also at Saturday's campaign event—for an interview on his platform X. Members of the AfD have been accused of downplaying the crimes of Nazi Germany and using Nazi slogans.
Musk told onlookers at the event, which took place in Halle, that he thinks AfD is the best hope for Germany and said that it's good to be proud of German culture, according to Reuters and The Guardian.
"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 said, according to Reuters, addressing the crowd via a live video.
"Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents," Musk also said, which, per Reuters, apparently referred to Germany's Nazi past.
Musk's "Nazi-like salutes" earlier this week drew sharp rebuke from some, but not all. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization whose mission is to combat antisemitism, called the move "an awkward gesture" and "not a Nazi salute."
For his part, Musk wrote on X that the reaction was an example of Democratic "dirty tricks." He also said that "the 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah, reacting to the news of Musk's appearance at the rally, wrote that "all the people who were shrugging and equivocating over Elon and whether he was aligning with Nazi, far-right forces should be launched into the sun. May they never be taken seriously again."
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Billionaire Elon Musk made virtual appearance at a Saturday campaign event for the far-right Alternative for Germany party—known by the initials AfD—ahead of a snap federal election in Germany next month. The campaign appearance comes less than a week after Musk was accused of performing a Nazi salute twice on stage at a post-inauguration celebration for U.S. President Donal Trump.
"A nazi speaking at a nazi rally. It's really not deeper than that," wrote the independent journalist Marisa Kabas on Saturday.
Musk has endorsed the AfD, known for it's strong anti-immigrant stance, and earlier this month hosted AfD co-leader Alice Weidel—who was also at Saturday's campaign event—for an interview on his platform X. Members of the AfD have been accused of downplaying the crimes of Nazi Germany and using Nazi slogans.
Musk told onlookers at the event, which took place in Halle, that he thinks AfD is the best hope for Germany and said that it's good to be proud of German culture, according to Reuters and The Guardian.
"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 said, according to Reuters, addressing the crowd via a live video.
"Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents," Musk also said, which, per Reuters, apparently referred to Germany's Nazi past.
Musk's "Nazi-like salutes" earlier this week drew sharp rebuke from some, but not all. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization whose mission is to combat antisemitism, called the move "an awkward gesture" and "not a Nazi salute."
For his part, Musk wrote on X that the reaction was an example of Democratic "dirty tricks." He also said that "the 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah, reacting to the news of Musk's appearance at the rally, wrote that "all the people who were shrugging and equivocating over Elon and whether he was aligning with Nazi, far-right forces should be launched into the sun. May they never be taken seriously again."
Billionaire Elon Musk made virtual appearance at a Saturday campaign event for the far-right Alternative for Germany party—known by the initials AfD—ahead of a snap federal election in Germany next month. The campaign appearance comes less than a week after Musk was accused of performing a Nazi salute twice on stage at a post-inauguration celebration for U.S. President Donal Trump.
"A nazi speaking at a nazi rally. It's really not deeper than that," wrote the independent journalist Marisa Kabas on Saturday.
Musk has endorsed the AfD, known for it's strong anti-immigrant stance, and earlier this month hosted AfD co-leader Alice Weidel—who was also at Saturday's campaign event—for an interview on his platform X. Members of the AfD have been accused of downplaying the crimes of Nazi Germany and using Nazi slogans.
Musk told onlookers at the event, which took place in Halle, that he thinks AfD is the best hope for Germany and said that it's good to be proud of German culture, according to Reuters and The Guardian.
"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 said, according to Reuters, addressing the crowd via a live video.
"Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents," Musk also said, which, per Reuters, apparently referred to Germany's Nazi past.
Musk's "Nazi-like salutes" earlier this week drew sharp rebuke from some, but not all. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization whose mission is to combat antisemitism, called the move "an awkward gesture" and "not a Nazi salute."
For his part, Musk wrote on X that the reaction was an example of Democratic "dirty tricks." He also said that "the 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah, reacting to the news of Musk's appearance at the rally, wrote that "all the people who were shrugging and equivocating over Elon and whether he was aligning with Nazi, far-right forces should be launched into the sun. May they never be taken seriously again."