 "Who is Alice Weidel, the German far-right leader that Elon Musk will interview?")
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is set to host Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, in a live conversation this week.
This highly anticipated discussion comes amid heightened political tensions in Germany, which faces a snap election on February 23.
Musk’s support for anti-establishment movements has become increasingly evident, especially since his $250 million investment to bolster Donald Trump’s bid for re-election in the United States.
In Germany, Musk has openly endorsed the AfD , a party labelled as right-wing extremist by the country’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV). His critiques of Germany’s leadership have been harsh, with Musk calling Chancellor Olaf Scholz an “incompetent fool” and accusing German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of being a “tyrant” for speaking out against the AfD.
Although details of the conversation remain undisclosed, Weidel confirmed contact with Musk’s office, and the interview appears to align with Musk’s growing interest in European far-right politics.
Previously, he hinted at the event on X, claiming their discussion would provoke widespread backlash among critics.
Who is Alice Weidel?
Alice Weidel’s trajectory into politics is anything but conventional. Born in 1979, she holds a doctorate in economics and is fluent in Mandarin after living in China for six years while working for the Bank of China.
She also gained experience at Goldman Sachs and as a management consultant before joining the AfD in 2013, during its early days as a eurosceptic party.
Weidel’s personal life often stands in stark contrast to her party’s ideology. She lives in a civil partnership with a Sri Lankan-born filmmaker, and the couple raises two adopted sons. Her family life directly conflicts with the AfD’s commitment to “traditional family values,” which prioritise heterosexual, nuclear families.
Despite this, Weidel insists her lifestyle is a non-issue within the party, reported DW, stating in 2017, “One or two people may feel aggrieved, but that also exists in other parties.”
Her admiration for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has shaped her political vision, particularly her emphasis on neoliberal economics. “Thatcher took over Britain when the country was economically down and got it back on track,” Weidel told German newspaper Bild.
She supports tax reductions, welfare cuts, and privatisation while opposing what she calls Germany’s “costly” shift to a carbon-neutral economy.
Weidel’s role in AfD’s political surge
Weidel has been instrumental in steering the AfD through a period of remarkable growth. Although the party performed poorly in the 2021 federal election, securing just 10.3 per cent of the vote, it has since gained significant traction.
Recent state elections saw the AfD capturing between 18.4 per cent and 32.8 per cent of the vote, with its strongest performances in eastern Germany .
Currently polling at around 20 per cent nationwide, the AfD has positioned itself as a formidable opposition force, capitalising on widespread dissatisfaction with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government.
Weidel has even been announced as the AfD’s chancellor candidate for the 2025 federal election — an unprecedented move for the party. However, their political isolation remains a significant hurdle. All mainstream German parties have categorically ruled out any coalition with the AfD, citing its extremist ties.
Dear @elonmusk,
— Alice Weidel (@Alice_Weidel) December 20, 2024
Thank you so much for your note. The Alternative for Germany is indeed the one and only alternative for our country; our very last option. I wish you and President Donald #Trump all the best for the upcoming tenure! And also, I wish you and all the American people… pic.twitter.com/iVBfPDoRfp
Despite this, Weidel is optimistic about the party’s future. She has predicted that by 2029, the political landscape will shift in favour of a right-wing coalition, reflecting growing voter frustration with Germany’s traditional parties.
Controversy around Weidel
Weidel’s position in the AfD is as complex as it is controversial. While she projects a polished image in tailored suits and pearls, her rhetoric often ventures into inflammatory territory.
In 2018, she described asylum-seekers in Germany as “knife-wielding men on welfare” and “headscarf girls,” sparking widespread outrage. When criticised, Weidel defended her comments as a deliberate strategy to ignite debates.
Her alignment with extremist factions within the AfD has drawn further scrutiny. She has defended Björn Höcke, a leader in the party’s far-right wing, despite his history of using Nazi slogans. “He is doing an excellent job in Thuringia,” she said, dismissing his criminal convictions as “ridiculous.”
Weidel’s family history has also drawn scrutiny, particularly her paternal grandfather’s role as a Nazi judge during World War II. Expelled from Silesia, now part of Poland, after the war, critics question whether such lineage influences her stance, though Weidel has largely avoided addressing the topic publicly.
She grew up in a politically aware household in west Germany, where she experienced firsthand tensions with Middle Eastern immigrants in her hometown. “You don’t enjoy going to the outdoor pool anymore as a teenager when people are always calling you ‘slut,’” she once told Swiss magazine WeltWoche.
Her economic policies echo her neoliberal leanings. She has called for an end to the minimum wage, significant reductions in government spending, and tighter immigration controls .
Her scepticism about climate change policies has also resonated with voters frustrated by Germany’s transition to green energy.
What Musk’s interview of Weidel means for Germany
Musk’s decision to engage with Weidel highlights his growing influence in global politics and raises questions about the implications for Germany’s democratic process.
Leaders across Germany have condemned his endorsement of the AfD. In a New Year’s address, Chancellor Scholz stated that Germany’s upcoming election would be decided by its citizens, not by billionaire outsiders.
Weidel’s supporters, however, see the interview as an opportunity to legitimise their party on an international stage. By associating with Musk, the AfD hopes to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base, potentially capitalising on Musk’s vast online following.
With inputs from agencies
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