Musk urges Germans to ‘stop focusing on past guilt’ as tens of thousands take to streets to protest far-right AfD

26 January 2025, 08:21

Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at a rally for the German far-right party, urging Germans to ‘stop focusing on past guilt’ as tens of thousands took to the streets to protest the party.
Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at a rally for the German far-right party, urging Germans to ‘stop focusing on past guilt’ as tens of thousands took to the streets to protest the party. Picture: Getty

By Josef Al Shemary

Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at a rally for the German far-right party, urging Germans to ‘stop focusing on past guilt’ as tens of thousands took to the streets to protest against the party.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Musk addressed 4,500 people at Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) election campaign event in Halle in eastern Germany on Saturday, endorsing the party for the second time in two weeks.

Speaking via video link, he told the crowd to ‘be proud of German culture’ and ‘stop focusing on past guilt’, in an apparent reference to the Holocaust and WWII.

“It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said.

The world’s richest man came under scrutiny on Monday, when he made a gesture that many compared to a Nazi salute at a Trump inauguration event.

The world’s richest man came under scrutiny on Monday, when he made a gesture that many compared to a Nazi salute at a Trump inauguration event.
The world’s richest man came under scrutiny on Monday, when he made a gesture that many compared to a Nazi salute at a Trump inauguration event. Picture: Getty

At the rally on Saturday, he said “children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents”, apparently referencing Germany’s Nazi past right before International Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday, January 27.

“There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that,” he said.

The AfD is an anti-immigration and anti-Islamic party that has been designated right-wing-extremist by German security services.

Speaking via video link, he told the crowd to ‘be proud of German culture’ and ‘stop focusing on past guilt’, in an apparent reference to the Holocaust and WWII.
Speaking via video link, he told the crowd to ‘be proud of German culture’ and ‘stop focusing on past guilt’, in an apparent reference to the Holocaust and WWII. Picture: Alamy

Meanwhile, thousands of Germans took to the streets in protest in Berlin and other cities against the rise of the far-right and anti-immigrant party ahead of a February 23 general election.

At Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, participants lit up their phones, blew whistles and sang anti-fascist songs, while in Cologne, protesters carried banners denouncing AfD.

An opposition bloc of Germany's centre-right parties, the Union, led by Friedrich Merz, is leading pre-election polls with AfD in second place.

Merz said on Friday that his party will bring motions to toughen migration policy - one of the main election issues - to parliament next week, a move seen risky in case the motions go to a vote and pass with the help of AfD.

Protesters gather during a demonstration against right-wing extremism and Donald Trump in front of the Brandenburg gate, on January 25, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.
Protesters gather during a demonstration against right-wing extremism and Donald Trump in front of the Brandenburg gate, on January 25, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty

He had earlier vowed to bar people from entering the country without proper papers and to step up deportations if he is elected chancellor.

Those comments came after a knife attack in Aschaffenburg by a rejected asylum-seeker left a man and a two-year-old boy dead, with the reaction to the tragedy spilling over into the election campaign.

Activists including the group calling itself Fridays for Future dubbed the Berlin rally the "sea of light against the right turn".

Tens of thousands gather around the Brandenburg Gate for a "light demonstration" against the rise of the far-right in the country and in Europe on January 25, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.
Tens of thousands gather around the Brandenburg Gate for a "light demonstration" against the rise of the far-right in the country and in Europe on January 25, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty

They hope it will draw attention to the actions by the new administration of US President Donald Trump and to the political line-up ahead of Germany's election.

A protester in Cologne, Thomas Schneemann, said it was most important for him to "stay united against the far-right".

"Especially after yesterday and what we heard from Friedrich Merz we have to stand together to fight the far right," he added.

The protests took place while AfD was opening its election campaign in the central city of Halle on Saturday.

Party leaders Alice Weidel, AfD's candidate for chancellor, and Tino Chrupalla were expected to speak to an audience of some 4,500 people.

Ms Weidel again received the backing of Elon Musk, who addressed the rally remotely, but she has no realistic chance of becoming Germany's leader as other parties refuse to work with AfD.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

M5 closed in both directions after body found on motorway, sparking police investigation

Lucy

Expert panel claims 'no criminal offences committed' in Lucy Letby case after bombshell new report into baby deaths

The Sentinelese are a pre-Neolithic tribe that rejects contact with the modern world

US tourist arrested for sailing to remote island and leaving a can of Coke for the world's most isolated tribe to try

Full runners and riders confirmed for Saturday's Grand National

Grand National 2025 runners and riders confirmed as full 34-horse line-up revealed

Exclusive
Sophie Bannister and April-Levi Whalley have posted celebratory social media posts after dodging jail for drug smuggling

'Can't wait to enjoy our summer': Drug smuggling best friends celebrate after dodging jail over suitcases full of cannabis

The Trump administration has been ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

'No one is safe, not even the penguins': Trump administration ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

Uriah Rennie is 'learning to walk again'.

Premier League's first black referee, Uriah Rennie, 'learning to walk again' after he was left paralysed

Two people died in the explosion in Newcastle

Man, 33, admits manslaughter and drugs charge after devastating house explosion in Newcastle left two dead

j

Glamorous drug smuggling friends found guilty of bringing cannabis to UK - after New York 'shopping trip'

Greenpeace activists scaled a building outside the Foreign Office

Greenpeace activists scale Foreign Office building over signing of ocean treaty

Spain celebrates winning the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Australia

UK poised to host 2035 Women’s World Cup

Lucy Letby

Lawyer for killer nurse Lucy Letby to hand over 'fresh' evidence he hopes will clear her name

World leaders react to US tariffs

'This is not the act of a friend': World leaders react to Trump's 'unwarranted' tariffs

The millionaire businesswoman has called for an urgent safety review by TfL after the emergency Help Point failed in a central London station.

Millionaire businesswoman abandoned on Tube platform by staff after 'traumatising' assault

British couple

British couple found dead in New Zealand named - as police probe possible murder-suicide

Virginia Giuffre said she had been left with 'four days to life' after the crash

Bus driver breaks silence on Virginia Giuffre crash that left her 'with four days to live'