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Elon Musk

Trump-backing tech billionaire Elon Musk caused an outcry in Germany by throwing his weight behind the AfD in the run-up to the Feb. 23 vote. The move is in line with his previous support for European populist-right politicians, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Musk, who is said to be among U.S. President Donald Trump’s most powerful advisors, first endorsed the AfD in a tweet on X in December. He has also used the social media platform he bought in 2022 to berate mainstream German politicians, calling center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz a “fool,” touting the AfD as the only force that can “save” the country, and organizing a livestreamed chat with AfD frontrunner Alice Weidel.
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Musk congratulates far-right Weidel for coming 2nd in German election

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was also pleased to see the Alternative for Germany’s vote share growing.

February 24, 2025 2:48 pm CET

Trump congratulates Germany’s election winners — and himself

U.S. president’s praise for Friedrich Merz’s ‘conservatives’ offers a glimmer of hope after the White House’s brutal criticism of Europe.

February 23, 2025 10:34 pm CET

Alice Weidel’s moment has arrived

One in five voters in the German election favored the far right. The AfD leader’s dramatic rise terrifies many of the others.

February 23, 2025 10:16 pm CET

Musk says all federal employees need to explain their work immediately — or be let go

Federal employees received an email Saturday afternoon, and gave them a deadline of Monday night.

February 23, 2025 10:43 am CET

Will Germany’s far-right AfD break through the firewall and take power?

With international politics in flux, three leading historians give their views on the most consequential election in a generation for Europe’s most powerful country. 

February 22, 2025 4:04 pm CET

France’s Bardella cancels CPAC speech after Steve Bannon’s ‘Nazi’ salute

Bannon’s response: French far-right leader is “unworthy of leading France.”

February 21, 2025 6:12 pm CET

29 times Donald Trump did what Putin wanted 

Whose side is he on? It’s hard to keep up, so here’s a handy guide to America’s new policy of close alignment with the Kremlin.

February 21, 2025 4:01 am CET

Germany votes, Trump attacks, Europe reacts

Europe suddenly has to do it all — all alone, all at once. Still in shock after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unequivocal pivot toward Moscow, European leaders …

February 21, 2025 4:01 am CET

Ursula von der Leyen tightens her grip on power

The Commission president is further centralizing the EU executive in her second term.

February 20, 2025 4:00 am CET

Elon Musk’s DOGE is inspiring an army of British copycats

The X owner’s mission to cut wasteful government spending is being mimicked across the pond.

February 19, 2025 2:00 pm CET

Musk’s Starlink isn’t ready to rule Europe’s internet airwaves

Elon Musk’s satellites aren’t — yet — competing to serve Europeans’ everyday internet needs.

February 19, 2025 4:17 am CET

European aviation ‘dumbstruck’ by Musk’s takeover of US air traffic control

The billionaire’s people have marched into the Federal Aviation Administration, and Europeans are “freaking out.”

February 18, 2025 5:55 pm CET
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Germany’s Habeck slams ‘tech oligarch’ Musk, calls for a European X

Green chancellor candidate warns that Europe’s reliance on Silicon Valley is a threat to democracy.

February 18, 2025 6:00 am CET

X challenges German court decision that forces it to share election data

Elon Musk’s X has challenged a German court decision that instructed the platform to share data with researchers, the court confirmed to POLITICO. In an urgent injunction, …

February 17, 2025 4:57 pm CET

Senator Warner: Democrats’ ‘brand is really bad’

Ideological purity and cultural disconnect cost the party the last election.

February 15, 2025 6:44 pm CET

Vance’s week of waging war on EU tech law

The U.S. vice president attacked Europe’s regulations governing American Big Tech giants and online speech.

February 15, 2025 6:34 pm CET

JD Vance meets with leader of far-right German political party backed by Musk

The vice president met with the leaders of all four major German political parties — including Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany.

February 14, 2025 10:13 pm CET

Musk will face consequences for interfering in German election, says front-runner Merz

The next German government’s response could be political, legal, or possibly target Musk’s gigafactory near Berlin, center-right leader says in interview.

February 14, 2025 12:53 pm CET

The EU’s strategy to counter Trump’s tariffs: An iron fist in a velvet glove

Brussels has strengthened its trade toolkit since Donald Trump’s first term. But it would need the broad support of EU countries to strike back hard.

February 14, 2025 4:30 am CET
declassified

The European beef that’s bigger than Kendrick vs. Drake

The Old Continent is famous for a more sophisticated approach to settling disagreements.

February 14, 2025 4:00 am CET

What Trump and Musk think they can learn from Argentina’s Javier Milei

Donald Trump may have ruffled feathers with his closest neighbors in recent weeks, but he has a willing ally in South America. Argentina’s President Javier Milei has …

February 13, 2025 6:00 am CET

X verifies fake, crypto-hawking Maltese president impersonator

The bogus handle has since been deleted, but Myriam Spiteri Debono’s real account still doesn’t have a gray tick.

February 13, 2025 1:51 am CET

German far right wants to join forces with Orbán to dismantle EU from within

Alternative for Germany seeks international friends and legitimacy ahead of upcoming national election.

February 12, 2025 3:16 pm CET

How to watch the German election like a pro

Germany’s election will be a gauge of how far the world’s third biggest economy has swung to the right.

February 12, 2025 4:00 am CET
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