Tue Jan 21 15:37:00 UTC 2025: ## Scholz Condemns Musk’s Support for Far-Right, Musk Responds with Insult

**Davos, Switzerland/Berlin, Germany** – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sparked a fresh feud with Elon Musk after condemning Musk’s perceived support for extreme-right views. The conflict erupted following a controversial hand gesture by Musk during a Donald Trump inauguration celebration that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute.

Scholz, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, stated that while Germany upholds freedom of speech, this right does not extend to supporting extremist ideologies. He specifically referenced Musk’s actions, saying, “We do not accept supporting extreme-right positions.”

Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter) by posting a video of Scholz’s statement accompanied by the insult “Shame on Oaf Schitz!” “Schitz” is not a German word, further escalating the already tense relationship between the two figures.

This is not the first time Musk has targeted Scholz. He previously called the Chancellor an “incompetent fool” and urged his resignation. Furthermore, Musk’s repeated endorsements of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, including hosting their leader Alice Weidel for a discussion on X, have drawn significant criticism from the German government.

The European Commission is currently investigating X for potential breaches of EU content moderation rules, partially due to Musk’s actions. While the German government has refrained from a complete boycott of the platform, the ongoing controversy underscores growing concerns about the spread of misinformation and the influence of powerful individuals on social media. The upcoming German elections add further weight to the situation, as Musk’s public support for the AfD continues to raise eyebrows in Berlin.

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