LONDON — After dedicating significant resources and efforts to support Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, Elon Musk has shifted his focus towards Europe, prompting concern among various political leaders across the continent.
The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has voiced his support for the far-right party, Alternative for Germany, called for the release of British political figure Tommy Robinson, and criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, labeling him an “evil tyrant” who deserves imprisonment.
This newfound engagement has unsettled many European politicians. Musk’s activity on his social media platform, X, features derogatory remarks about politicians, labeling them as “stupid cretin” and “sniveling cowards,” alongside retweets from far-right and anti-immigration groups.
Andrew Chadwick, a political communication expert at Loughborough University, suggests that Musk is utilizing X similarly to how traditional newspaper barons would express their political stances, thus aligning more overtly with a global far-right narrative.
“Musk seems to be gathering a collective of various right-wing voices, many of whom boast sizable followings, to substantiate his forays into European political discourse,” Chadwick remarked.
In Germany, where elections are scheduled for February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, Musk has inserted himself into the political fray. He made a statement on X, asserting, “Only the AfD can save Germany,” in reference to the Alternative for Germany party, which is currently under scrutiny by domestic intelligence for suspected extremist activities.
Further expressing his perspective in a recent article with Welt am Sonntag, Musk claimed that Germany is “on the brink of economic and cultural collapse.” He is also scheduled to participate in a live chat with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel later this week.
The reaction to Musk’s engagement illustrates a complex challenge for European leaders: whether to disregard Musk’s provocative comments or confront them directly, potentially providing them with more visibility.
Scholz emphasized the importance of remaining calm amidst personal attacks, yet described Musk’s involvement in German politics as alarming. In his New Year address, he asserted that the trajectory of Germany would be determined by its electorate, not by social media moguls.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concerns regarding the unchecked influence of technology tycoons and their potential to disrupt democratic institutions. “Could anyone have predicted a decade ago that the owner of a major social network would interfere directly in elections, including in Germany?” Macron questioned.
Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis labeled Musk’s actions as “troubling and far from amusing,” arguing that one should not leverage their wealth and platform to dictate governmental formations across nations. He expressed that such conduct is increasingly perilous.
In the UK, Musk’s discourse has increasingly turned critical since the recent election of the center-left Labour Party, adding that Starmer leads a “tyrannical police state.” Musk’s accusations also center around child sexual exploitation cases from years prior linked to grooming in northern England, which far-right activists have exploited to tie abuse to immigration and Islam.
Musk has claimed that during his tenure as England’s director of public prosecutions, Starmer failed to bring justice to perpetrators involved in these cases, a statement Starmer has refuted vehemently.
“Starmer must resign and be held accountable for his involvement in Britain’s most egregious mass crime,” Musk tweeted, adding further tension to the political climate.
Chadwick notes that there has been a reluctance among UK political figures to address Musk’s incendiary comments. However, Starmer has since condemned “lies and misinformation,” accusing Conservative politicians who echo Musk’s sentiments of amplifying far-right rhetoric.
“I appreciate engaging in political discussions and debates, but these should be grounded in facts and truth, rather than falsehoods,” Starmer proclaimed.
Calls for stricter UK laws on foreign interference have emerged in response to Musk’s behaviors, while governments globally face mounting pressure regarding their association with X. Both the UK and German administrations have indicated they do not intend to exit the platform.
Musk’s X is currently under investigation by European authorities focused on curbing hate speech and misinformation. The European Union has launched proceedings against X as part of the Digital Services Act, with scrutiny regarding the appropriateness of Musk’s forthcoming interview with Weidel during this electoral season.
As a self-proclaimed advocate for free speech, Musk has been critical of regulations aimed at social media oversight, drawing comparisons between Britain’s attempts to eliminate online falsehoods to Soviet-era censorship.
While Musk enjoys provoking established political figures on social media, Chadwick believes it remains uncertain whether his assertions will influence public opinion or effectively support the causes he champions.
There are inherent risks with these political interventions, especially as Tesla stakeholders closely monitor Musk’s comments, wary of potential alienation of customers who may not align with his political opinions.
Tesla is grappling with challenges in Europe, observing a 13% decrease in new vehicle registrations during the first nine months of 2023, with a significant 44% drop in Germany alone, according to auto researcher Jato Dynamics.
Jato senior analyst Felipe Munoz highlighted that Musk’s outspoken nature is atypical for a leader of a publicly traded entity but may yield benefits in the long run.
“European politics are trending to the right,” he noted, referencing influential figures such as France’s Marine Le Pen and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. “His support for Trump proved fruitful—this is a similar strategy in Europe.”
