Billionaire Elon Musk and AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel discussed various topics, including migration and historical claims, during a conversation on Musk’s platform X. Weidel made several misleading assertions, particularly regarding Germany’s immigration policies and crime rates, while Musk inaccurately characterized theft laws in California. The dialogue lacked critical engagement, with Weidel controversially claiming the AfD protects Jewish interests, a statement refuted by German Jewish representatives who label the party as anti-Semitic.
For over an hour, billionaire Elon Musk and AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel engaged in a dialogue covering a variety of subjects. During their discussion, Weidel made several incorrect assertions and attempted to revise historical facts, particularly concerning migration and economic matters.
At the outset of the conversation on his platform X, Musk inaccurately presented Weidel as the leading candidate for the upcoming Bundestag elections in Germany. In reality, neither she nor her party is leading in the polls. According to the latest ARD-DeutschlandTrend, the CDU and CSU coalition holds the top position with 31 percent, while the AfD trails in second place with about 20 percent.
In terms of public satisfaction regarding chancellor candidates, Weidel does not rank highly either, finding herself in fifth place. Other party leaders, such as Robert Habeck from the Greens, Friedrich Merz from the CDU, Christian Lindner from the FDP, and Sarah Wagenknecht from the BSW, enjoy better approval ratings.
Misleading Claims on Migration
Migration was a primary focus of their conversation. Weidel erroneously asserted that former Chancellor Angela Merkel had forced the opening of Germany’s borders to illegal immigration during the 2015 asylum crisis. This claim is unfounded.
During that period, Germany’s borders were not closed. The stationary border controls within the Schengen area had already been lifted long before. Kolja Schwartz from the ARD Legal Editorial Team clarified in April 2016 that the assertion of Merkel “opening the borders” is “completely wrong, as there have been no closed borders in the Schengen area for years. Thus, no borders could have been opened in 2015.”
Furthermore, Weidel insisted that there is a surging crime rate in Germany, which is misleading. While the Police Crime Statistics (PKS) indicated an increase in cases to nearly six million in 2023—over five percent more than the previous year—crime rates were significantly higher in 2015 and 2016. Experts also stress that factors like an increased willingness among citizens to report crimes should be factored into the interpretation of PKS data.
The Reality of Theft Laws in California
Musk also made an inaccurate statement related to migration, claiming that theft in California is essentially legal if the value of the stolen goods is under $1,000. This is a misconception. While a law reform in California in 2014 reclassified theft of goods valued at $950 or less as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, it does not mean that such theft is legal. Offenders can face fines and potential jail time of up to six months. According to fact-checkers from Deutsche Welle, this reform aimed to alleviate overcrowding in California’s prisons.
Misunderstanding Historical Context
During their exchange, Musk and Weidel briefly addressed the coronavirus pandemic. Weidel dismissed protective masks during the pandemic as mere “bluff and fraud,” despite numerous studies indicating that masks can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
In a discussion about freedom of speech, Weidel stated, “Do you know what Adolf Hitler did first? He eliminated freedom of speech,” to which Musk agreed. Weidel went on to claim that Hitler was not “right-wing” but rather a “communist” who labeled himself a “socialist.”
These comparisons to the Nazi regime are misleading and serve a dual purpose. The Nazi ideology fundamentally rested on the premise of human inequality, which culminated in the Holocaust. The Nazis embraced a racial and biological worldview that is distinctly “right-wing.” In contrast, leftist ideologies like socialism and communism advocate for equality.
Under Nazi rule, communists faced persecution and murder. Before the Nazis rose to power, there was an anti-capitalist faction within the party aimed at appealing to workers, yet this was mainly strategic. Notably, in 1934, Hitler executed the leading figure of this faction, Gregor Strasser, along with other internal party rivals.
The AfD’s Controversial Standing
Weidel contended that the AfD is a “libertarian and conservative party” that is frequently mischaracterized. However, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has designated the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist entity, with three of its state associations classified as “secured right-wing extremist”: Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. Numerous party officials have made extremist remarks, with Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke being convicted twice in 2024 for using Nazi-era slogans.
A reassessment of the party’s classification was scheduled for the end of 2024 but was postponed due to the early Bundestag elections. This delay stems from concerns regarding equal opportunities for all parties, particularly as the timing of such decisions could unfairly influence election outcomes.
Political scientist Jeanette Hofmann remarked, “Elon Musk never disagreed” during their conversation, highlighting the lack of critical engagement.
Misconceptions About Jewish Life in Germany
Throughout the discussion, Weidel repeatedly claimed that the AfD is the sole party protecting Jewish interests in Germany, asserting that other parties have failed by allowing millions to enter the country.
This assertion is vehemently disputed by numerous representatives of Germany’s Jewish community, including the Central Council of Jews. In a “Joint Declaration Against the AfD,” they express that “the AfD is a party where anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial have a home,” warning that it poses a “danger to Jewish life in Germany” and does not represent the community’s interests. Instead, they label it as a “racist and anti-Semitic party.”
An analysis by the American Jewish Committee in Berlin concluded that anti-Semitism is part of the “programmatic core” of the AfD, even if not always explicitly stated. According to the Heinrich Böll Foundation, anti-Semitic beliefs are “deeply rooted among many AfD members,” with conspiracy theories and coded language often surfacing in the rhetoric of AfD politicians.
This trend was evident in Musk’s dialogue with Weidel, as anti-Semitic narratives, including references to figures like George Soros, were invoked.