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Elon Musk endorses far-right German political party, wading deeper into global politics

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Elon Musk endorses far-right German political party, wading deeper into global politics

Elon Musk speaks at the Milken Institute's Global Conference on May 6, in Beverly Hills, California.

New York (CNN) 鈥� Elon Musk is wading into more than just American politics, throwing his support behind a far-right German political party.

Musk, the billionaire Trump ally who is in the incoming administration, posted in support Friday of Alternative for Germany, or AfD, after the German government collapsed this week.

鈥淥nly the AfD can save Germany,鈥� Musk wrote Friday while re-posting a video from far-right political activist Naomi Seibt.

The AfD, which has recently seen its popularity swell, has touted populist and anti-immigrant 鈥淕ermany first鈥� positions. But the party has also been accused of resurrecting Nazi-era ideology and slogans. In May, a judge ruled that Germany鈥檚 domestic intelligence agency could continue to keep the the AfD under surveillance for the alleged threat it poses to German democracy, rejecting a challenge by the party.

Its youth arm, the Young Alternative (JA), has been designated by German authorities as a 鈥渃onfirmed extremist鈥� organization. The party鈥檚 lead candidate in the eastern German state of Thuringia, Bj枚rn H枚cke, was convicted earlier this year after breaking German laws against uttering Nazi slogans in public.

But the party has seen growing support. AfD the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since the Nazi era, though all of the country鈥檚 mainstream political parties have said they will not sit with them in a coalition, which will be necessary to form enough seats for a ruling government.

It鈥檚 not the first time Musk has waded into German politics. In June, he responded to a video of Seibt鈥檚 asking 鈥淲hy is there such a negative reaction from some about AfD? They keep saying 鈥榝ar right,鈥� but the policies of AfD that I鈥檝e read about don鈥檛 sound extremist. Maybe I鈥檓 missing something,鈥� he wrote. And last month he labeled German Chancellor Olaf Scholz a 鈥渇ool鈥� after his governing coalition collapsed.

On Friday, Musk continued posting about the AfD, writing in response to a user鈥檚 post about the party鈥檚 immigration policy that it 鈥渟ounds reasonable.鈥�

Musk began following AfD leader Alice Weidel on X who responded to his endorsement, posting a video expressing gratitude.

鈥淎lternative for Germany is indeed the one and only alternative for our country; our very last option. I wish you and President Donald Trump all the best for the upcoming tenure!鈥� she wrote.

Christian Lindner, the leader of Germany鈥檚 pro-business Free Democratic Party, also responded to Musk鈥檚 post Friday urging him not to 鈥渞ush to conclusions from afar.鈥�

鈥淲hile migration control is crucial for Germany, the AfD stands against freedom, business 鈥� and it鈥檚 a far-right extremist party,鈥� Lindner wrote.

Musk has increasingly thrown his support behind far-right causes in Europe. Earlier this year, anti-immigration riots in the UK, writing on his social media platform that 鈥渃ivil war is inevitable鈥� in response to a post blaming the violent demonstrations on the effects of 鈥渕ass migration and open borders.鈥�

Earlier this week, Nigel Farage, the far-right populist British politician and Trump ally, said Musk was considering funding his Reform UK party.

Writing in the , Farage said that after meeting with Musk he 鈥渓eft us in no doubt that he is right behind us鈥� and was in 鈥渙ngoing negotiations鈥� about making a financial contribution.

The-CNN-Wire

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