German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has recently taken a firm stance against Elon Musk, responding to the billionaire's repeated barbs and support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In an interview published by The Guardian, Scholz emphasized the importance of not engaging with provocateurs on social media, stating, “Don’t feed the troll.”

In a recent interview with The Hill, he further elaborated that there is “nothing new” about criticisms coming from affluent media figures who do not embrace social democratic values. He notably remarked that he finds it more concerning that Musk is backing a party characterized by its right-wing extremism and ties to Putin’s Russia, potentially undermining transatlantic relations.

Musk, who has frequently criticized Scholz on his social media platform X, recently referred to him as an “incompetent fool” and shared his support for the AfD, which has gained traction in polls leading up to Germany's snap election scheduled for February 23. This endorsement has sparked outrage among German politicians, including Karl Lauterbach, Germany's health minister, who urged Musk not to interfere in their political affairs.

In a parallel op-ed in Business Insider, Musk claimed that the AfD is the only party that can “save Germany”, advocating for its controlled immigration policies which, he argued, help preserve German culture in the context of globalization. Scholz dismissed these sentiments, stating, “The rule is: don’t feed the troll,” and adding that engaging with Musk would only serve to grant legitimacy to unfounded criticisms against Germany's political landscape.

As Scholz prepares for upcoming elections, Musk's involvement in European politics has raised concerns about the influence of wealthy individuals on democratic processes. In the wake of tweetstorms and incendiary remarks from Musk, including derogatory references to Germany's leadership, Scholz has chosen to maintain his composure, underscoring the resilience of Germany’s political system against external provocateurs.

Scholz concluded by reasserting the strength of German democracy, stating, “In Germany, the will of the citizens prevails, not the erratic comments of a billionaire from the USA.” With the AfD polling strongly in the lead-up to the elections, the ramifications of Musk’s endorsements may indeed complicate future coalition building within the German political framework.