By Xhabir Deralla
Right there – who the f**k is Elon Musk to lecture Germans – or the world – on democracy, free speech, national pride, and – WTF!? – Dealing with the past!?
The world’s richest man is a tech guy, let’s be clear on that. He’s also an owner of a social network, not a media outlet, although it’s easy for him to buy one or more in five minutes, just in spite of this statement. This tech mogul who inherited a fortune from his father, an emerald mines owner, and made a large portion of his wealth from dealing with the US government – meaning, he got his wealth out of the US taxpayers’ pockets – decided to become a self-styled policy maker in the US and globally. He grew into some sort of a “free-speech absolutist” who doesn’t make a difference from extreme hate speech and free speech, at all.
This tech guy aligned himself with the authoritarian and extreme far-right figures and groups in Europe. And now, as critical elections in Germany are approaching (February 23), his hypocrisy and utter ignorance are becoming, actually, quite dangerous. While calling for democracy, the person who issued a clear “Sieg Heil” salute at the inauguration event of Donald Trump on January 20, dangerously threatens democracy and election integrity in a European country – this time in Germany.
Elon Musk, uninvited (in a political and historical sense of the term) and without any sort of legitimacy and credibility, and with no knowledge and understanding of basics about democracy, history and values – knowing nothing about European contexts – descends into the mud of the extreme far-right nationalism and hate. The manner in which he supports Germany’s AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) undermines the very democratic values and election integrity of Germany – values that he falsely claims to uphold.
The AfD is known for its xenophobic and ultranationalist policies, and it has long been under the critical, as well as security scrutiny for its links to extreme far-right ideologies and its flirtation with revisionist history.
Musk’s appearance at the AfD rally was not just a misstep. It was one of the most insolent attempts to affirm Germany’s darkest past. At the same time, his act undermines the democratic present of the country, while attacking the very basis of democracy as such.
Ironically, all this it is utterly humiliating even to the AfD itself. How come members of this party don’t see that? AfD’s leader, Ms. Alice Weidel seems to be blinded by the glitter of the unbalanced billionaire’s wealth. That’s embarrassing, to say the least.
In a didactical tone, Elon Musk paternalized the AfD’s leader and supporters in his appearance. His “wise thoughts” on the past were nothing but a rude attempt for whitewashing history. Musk’s call to “move on” from “past guilt” is not just tone-deaf. It mirrors a far-right narrative that minimize the horrors of Nazism and undermine Germany’s dealing with the past efforts. Musk attempts to erase the hard-learned lesson from the WWII, not only for Germans, but the whole of Europe and the world, and it is that dictatorships, aggression, denial of nations’ right for self-determination, and denial of fundamental human rights and freedoms – lead to devastating and lasting tragic consequences.
It’s a common knowledge that Germany is committed to ‘never again’ for decades. It is not just a phrase; it is a foundation of its modern democracy, reflected in education, memorials, and laws ensuring accountability for hate speech, extremism and Nazism. And now, the wealthiest person on Earth comes from across the Atlantic to diminish all that? That is deeply disturbing act that needs to set the alarm, both in Germany and elsewhere in Europe and beyond.
Musk dog whistles to nationalism. His statements about “preserving German culture” and total dismissal of multiculturalism play directly into xenophobic tropes. Musk simply does not understand culture, the very concept of culture, neither he understands the concept of multiculturalism. He dismisses multiculturalism as something that dilutes German culture. As ignorant as this statement may be, it is utterly inflammatory and destructive.
All in all, Musk’s financial and public backing of the AfD threatens not only Germany’s democratic fabric, but also the stability of the EU.
Actions like Musk’s Nazi salute and his callous dismissal of critics aren’t mere provocations of a rich and spoiled eccentric. They are ill-intended signals that embolden the far-right everywhere in the world. He makes and attempt to trivialize history and desensitize the public to the very real dangers of authoritarianism and extremism. And certainly reveals Musk as an utterly irresponsible and dishonest figure on the global stage.
Musk’s flirt with authoritarianism is not unique, neither now, nor in the past. Most of the wealthy people aligned themselves with authoritarian regimes and dictatorships in the world. Yet Musk’s global platform and influence make his actions uniquely perilous.
Germany, Europe, and the world must not let Elon Musk’s wealth and influence shield him from accountability. If he is not confronted with decisive critique and dismissal, his acts will embolden those who seek to rewrite history and undermine democracy and human rights. Democratic forces must show decisive commitment – or better said, to recommit to values that are threatened by the acts of Musk and characters like him. It’s time to say unequivocally: Who the f**k is Elon Musk to lecture Germans – or anyone – on democracy?
