On Saturday, January 25, 2025, Elon Musk made an unexpected remote appearance during an election campaign event for the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Halle, eastern Germany. Speaking via video conference to an audience of 4,500 alongside party leader Alice Weidel, Musk delivered remarks laced with racist undertones. Among other statements, he said: “It’s good to take pride in German culture and values and to strive not to lose them in a multiculturalism that makes everything meaningless.”
In comments that seemingly referenced Germany’s Nazi past, Musk added: “Children shouldn’t feel guilty for the sins of their parents, let alone their grandparents. There’s too much focus on past sins, and we need to move past that.” He went on to endorse voting for the far-right party, saying: “I’m very excited about Alternative for Germany. I think you are truly Germany’s best hope… Fight for a great future for Germany.”
This marked Musk’s second public endorsement of the far-right party within two weeks, further fueling concerns over his increasingly fascist rhetoric. His actions, including a semi-Nazi salute during Trump’s inauguration, now appear deliberate.
In response, socialist, syndicalist, and antifascist groups across Germany organized protests against the AfD’s election campaign and Musk’s racist remarks. On Saturday, January 25, 2025, over 100,000 people demonstrated across more than 60 locations in support of democracy and against far-right extremism. From Aschaffenburg to Wiesbaden, citizens took to the streets to defend a democratic society enriched by diverse races and cultures.
The largest marches occurred in Berlin, where nearly 100,000 people participated, and in Cologne, where 40,000 people gathered despite heavy rain. Protesters in Berlin expressed their anger at the AfD’s campaign and Musk’s support. Families turned out in significant numbers, emphasizing the collective rejection of fascist rhetoric.
Demonstrators sang the antifascist anthem “Defend, Stand Firm,” a moment described as spine-chilling and unifying.
Syndicalists and other organizers were overjoyed by the unexpectedly large turnout. For example, in Cologne, organizers had anticipated 5,000 participants but saw 40,000 defy the weather to join the protests.
Over Friday and Saturday, the newspaper Taz counted 21 gatherings with over 90,000 participants. Higher estimates from organizers suggest over 200,000 attendees nationwide.
As seen in previous years, this pro-democracy movement’s resurgence in smaller cities reflects the courage and determination of people standing for their values. According to Taz investigations, over 100 demonstrations have occurred since January 2, involving more than 100,000 participants in total.
While far-right movements have gained ground in elections in some countries, such as the United States, mainstream media largely owned by billionaires often exaggerates their influence while ignoring the responses of progressive and antifascist forces. Elon Musk exemplifies this approach through his actions on his social media platform, X.
However, reactionary theatrics by figures like Musk have only energized democracy advocates and socialists. Saturday’s widespread protests in Germany serve as a testament to this resistance. As the capitalist system continues to struggle with crises, there is neither the capacity for another world war nor the conditions to resurrect Nazism or fascism on a global scale. In this context, socialism remains humanity’s only viable path for survival and coexistence on Earth.
