Elon Musk’s latest column in Welt am Sonntag, where he defends his support for Germany’s far-right AfD party, has led to the resignation of senior editor Eva Marie Kogel. Kogel, who heads editorial content, announced her resignation on X, a platform Musk owns, stating, “Today, a column by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. Yesterday, I submitted my resignation following its publication.”
In his column, Musk calls the AfD “the last beacon of hope for this country,” arguing that Germany is on the brink of economic and cultural collapse. He lauds the party’s “controlled immigration policy,” tax-cutting goals, and pro-market deregulation. Musk further challenges the label of “far-right,” citing AfD leader Alice Weidel’s same-sex relationship with a Sri Lankan partner as evidence that the party doesn’t fit this description.
However, Die Welt’s new editor-in-chief, Jan Philipp Burgard, pushed back, declaring that “even a genius can be wrong.” He warns that the AfD threatens Germany’s values and economy, referencing Björn Höcke, another party leader, who has been convicted for using a banned Nazi slogan.
Musk’s column follows a tweet from December 20th where he claimed “only the AfD” could “save Germany.” His comments have stirred controversy, especially with the AfD polling around 19% in upcoming elections. The backlash has also reached the German Journalists Association (DJV), which condemned the piece as “electoral advertising.” DJV leader Mika Beuster criticized Die Welt for letting itself be used as a platform for autocrats.
