BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced strong criticism of tech billionaire Elon Musk during a recent media interaction, responding to Musk’s provocative statements regarding Germany’s historical accountability for Nazi atrocities. Scholz expressed his outrage over Musk’s suggestion that Germans should simply ‘move on’ from their historical guilt.
Speaking in English to journalists at a campaign event in Berlin, Scholz stated,
“I’m so angry about Elon Musk intervening for the far right and Elon Musk also not acting adequate to this killing of so many Jews and other people in Europe done by Germans in the past. This is the historic responsibility we will continue to take in the future as well.”
Elon Musk’s political affiliations raise concerns
Musk, known for his immense wealth and influence, has increasingly aligned himself with far-right politics in recent years. His relationships with conservative figures, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump, have drawn significant scrutiny. Recently, Musk has been accused of supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is gaining traction as the country approaches a national snap election scheduled for February 23.
Scholz remarked, “If you look at the print press in Germany, you will see that there are many billionaires that also intervene in politics. That’s not new. What is new is that he is intervening in favor of right-wing politicians all over Europe. And this is really disgusting. And it is not good for the democratic development in all the European Union.”
Outrage over comments on historical accountability
Musk’s remarks during a video address at an AfD event last weekend ignited widespread outrage. He urged Germans to ‘move on’ from their historical guilt, a sentiment that resonates with AfD rhetoric suggesting that Germany’s ongoing acknowledgment of its World War II crimes is harmful to its national identity. This perspective has been met with significant backlash within Germany and across Europe, raising concerns about the implications for democratic values and historical memory.
This story is ongoing and will continue to develop as more reactions emerge.