Elon Musk Extends Congratulations to Alternative for Germany Party Leader After Historic Election Performance

Despite a second-place finish, the AfD's performance marked a significant milestone in its history, leading to a congratulatory call from Musk.

The hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a notable achievement in the national elections, garnering 20.8 percent of the vote, a record for any far-right party in Germany since World War II. While party leaders had anticipated an even better showing, they received a congratulatory phone call from none other than Elon Musk, who took to social media to applaud their efforts.

Alice Weidel, the party’s chancellor candidate, revealed that she had missed Musk's call, only to find a notification on her phone the following morning. "He congratulated me personally," she shared with reporters. This phone call was quickly followed by a tweet from Musk, who reposted a message from Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, adding, “Indeed, congratulations @Alice_Weidel! At this rate of growth, @AfD will be the majority party by the next election.”

Despite this electoral success, the AfD faces challenges in forming a coalition government. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democrats, who emerged as the election frontrunner, has declined to collaborate with the far-right party, leaving the AfD in a sidelined position despite its substantial gains.

The AfD’s platforms emphasize limiting immigration, tightening deportation laws, and addressing economic issues. However, elements of the party have been categorized as extremist by German domestic intelligence agencies. Nevertheless, U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently met with Weidel, suggesting that mainstream political entities should not disregard parties like the AfD.

Musk's backing of the AfD became public last December when he endorsed the party on social media, later engaging directly with Weidel in a lengthy conversation broadcast on X. In January, he further supported the AfD by calling into a party rally, urging supporters to persuade their community to vote for their agenda. This intervention from a foreign figure in German politics is unprecedented, particularly as Musk commented on the country’s historical narrative regarding past guilt.

While Musk's involvement did not significantly sway the pre-election polling, party co-leader Tino Chrupalla acknowledged an uptick in interest and financial contributions from other entrepreneurs as a result of Musk's endorsement. This interplay between international influence and domestic politics marks a unique chapter in the evolution of Germany's political landscape.