The nationalist far right in Germany is increasingly seeking ideological allies abroad to gain the legitimacy it desires at home.
This was evident during a recent convention of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), where Alice Weidel, the party’s chancellor candidate, expressed gratitude to billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk for live streaming the event on his X account. The broadcast reached millions globally, providing the party with a platform much larger than it typically receives.
“I would like to thank Elon Musk, who is live streaming this party conference so that everyone can see what we are doing politics for,” Weidel stated amid enthusiastic cheers. She emphasized the importance of visibility by proclaiming: “Everyone should see it.” Switching to English, she added: “Freedom of speech!”
The AfD has been invigorated by Musk’s endorsement as the national election on February 23 approaches. Musk’s promotion of the party is viewed by AfD leaders as a vital connection to the incoming U.S. administration, led by President-elect Donald Trump.
In a signal of their intention to strengthen ties, AfD delegates passed a motion aimed at fostering closer relations between Germany and the U.S., particularly with Trump’s future administration. Marc Jongen, an AfD member of the European Parliament, described the motion as a “thank you” to Musk.
Despite being a party that is friendly toward Russia and advocating for closer ties with the Kremlin, the AfD has not been characterized by a strong pro-America sentiment. Many AfD politicians harbor resentment toward what they perceive as U.S. dominance over Germany since World War II. In a recent interview with the American Conservative magazine, Weidel referred to Germans as a “defeated people” and suggested that Germany is a “slave” to the U.S.
However, AfD leaders believe that Trump could redefine America’s global role and become a close ally.
Weidel hinted at this during her convention speech, suggesting that an AfD-led government would be uniquely positioned to cultivate robust ties with both the Kremlin and the Trump administration, potentially positioning Germany as a bridge between Putin and Trump.
“The AfD is the only party that has all channels of communication open to the East and the West,” she asserted.
The AfD’s Defenders Abroad
While the Trump administration has not formally endorsed the AfD, Musk’s advocacy has generated notable interest in high places.
Earlier this month, Vice President-elect JD Vance shared on X an English translation of Musk’s opinion piece published in Germany’s Welt am Sonntag, where Musk referred to the party as the “last spark of hope” for the country.
“I’m not endorsing a party in the German elections, as it’s not my country and we hope to have good relations with all Germans,” Vance noted. “But this is an interesting piece.”
Vance defended the party, asserting that the “American media slanders AfD as Nazi-lite.”
Meanwhile, many mainstream German leaders, including conservatives, have expressed concerns that the AfD promotes Nazi ideology; Germany’s federal domestic intelligence agency has classified it as a suspected right-wing extremist organization. The party’s leader in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, has been found guilty of using banned slogans linked to Adolf Hitler’s SA stormtroopers; a German court has ruled that Höcke can be justifiably referred to as a fascist.
A defense of the party from a figure like Vance serves to undermine warnings from German officials, potentially legitimizing the AfD among voters. It raises questions about the potential for warm relations between the Trump administration and the next German government, which, according to current polls, is likely to be led by conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz.
Merz’s conservatives, like other German parliamentary parties, have pledged not to govern with the AfD. However, party leaders are strategically positioning themselves to build enough popularity over time that exclusion becomes untenable.
It remains uncertain whether Musk’s endorsement will aid the AfD in achieving this goal, even as polls indicate the party has gained popularity in recent weeks. Currently, the AfD ranks second behind Germany’s conservatives in polls, with support around 21 percent.
Additionally, there are other sources of foreign support that could benefit the AfD, particularly from Austria. The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), led by Herbert Kickl, appears poised to gain power in Vienna after recent coalition talks among mainstream parties collapsed. The successes of the FPÖ have emboldened German far-right leaders, who see a potential roadmap for their own ascent to power.
AfD leaders regard the FPÖ as a “sister party,” believing that should their Austrian counterpart gain power, it could help destigmatize the AfD in the eyes of German voters.
“Austria is ahead of us in terms of development,” Höcke noted in a post on X.
Embracing Extremism
A year ago, the situation looked grim for the AfD.
In January, massive protests erupted across Germany in response to an investigative report by Correctiv revealing that AfD politicians attended a meeting of right-wing extremists, where a “master plan” for mass deportations was discussed. This plan was euphemistically termed “remigration.”
The sustained protests drew millions, leading many Germans to question whether they could halt the party’s rise. Even Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right leader, distanced herself from the AfD to present her own party as more palatable to French voters.
Fast forward a year, and the AfD has mostly recovered, nearing the record-high polling figures it reached before the protest movement. During this time, Trump was elected, promoting a platform that included mass deportations.
As extremist ideas gain traction, the AfD’s national leaders, who once shunned the term “remigration” due to controversy, have now embraced it wholeheartedly.
During her speech at the convention, Weidel committed to sealing Germany’s borders and executing “large-scale repatriations” if in power.
“I have to tell you quite honestly: If it’s to be called remigration, then it’s just called remigration,” Weidel declared to loud applause.
