CNN
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The chairman of the World Holocaust Remembrance Center has accused Elon Musk of insulting the victims of Nazism after the billionaire told a far-right German political party that the country needs to move on from the “crimes” of the past. .
Musk made the comments in a surprise video address on Saturday at the campaign launch for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
“Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,” he said.
“There’s a lot of focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that,” he added.
Musk’s remarks reflected the AfD’s long-standing position that Germany should stop atoning for past Nazi crimes.
World Holocaust Remembrance Center Yad Vashem chairman Dani Dayan warned against any move to bury the legacy of Nazism. Writing in a post on X, which is owned by Musk, Dayan said that “remembering and acknowledging the dark past of the country and its people must be central to the formation of German society,” and that “to do so Failure to do so is a crime, an insult to the victims of Nazism and a clear threat to Germany’s democratic future.
Musk has taken a growing interest in European politics, and many of the continent’s leaders have accused him of meddling in their affairs and promoting dangerous figures.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned Musk’s comments as “stinking” and “all too familiar”, saying they came “just hours before the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz”.
In his address Saturday, Musk said it was important that “people are proud of Germany and being German,” a comment that drew cheers.
Musk also addressed the issue of immigration — a key issue in Germany’s Feb. 23 general election — urging AfD co-leader Alice Weidel and her supporters to “make some kind of “Don’t lose your national pride in multiculturalism which weakens everything”.
This isn’t the first time in recent times that Musk has come under scrutiny for his outspoken support for the far right. Last week, Musk faced backlash when he made a gesture at a post-inauguration rally last week that some commentators said resembled a fascist salute.
At a rally after US President Donald Trump was sworn in last Monday, Musk brought his right arm to his chest and then extended it to the audience, a gesture scrutinized by fascist leaders in Germany and Italy. Similar to the Nazi or Roman salute used by
Musk pushed back at the criticism, writing on X, “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is so tired.”
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz — a frequent target of Musk’s barbs — told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: “Germany and Europe Everyone is free to express their opinion, including billionaires… but we don’t accept support for remotely correct positions.” Musk responded to X: “Shame on the shit!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Musk, saying he had been “slandered” amid a storm of international condemnation.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) initially dismissed it as “an awkward gesture in a moment of passion”.
However, in response to Musk posting a series of Nazi puns on social media on Thursday, the ADL criticized the “inappropriate and highly offensive jokes that trivialize the Holocaust.”
Despite the scrutiny, Musk has continued to support populist political movements that have won several European elections. He has also drawn parallels between the political environment in Germany and the United States and emphasized that the upcoming election could have global implications.
