21 hours ago
Last Updated:January 21, 2025, 22:54 IST
The feud between billionaire Elon Musk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz began following the Magdeburg Christmas market terror attack.
Elon Musk gestures at the podium inside the Capital One arena on the inauguration day of Donald Trump's second presidential term, in Washington, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
‘Oaf Schitz’: Musk Takes Aim At Scholz After He Slams Billionaire For Backing Extreme-Right
Davos, Switzerland
The feud between billionaire Elon Musk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz began following the Magdeburg Christmas market terror attack.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk called Olaf Scholz “Oaf Schitz" on Tuesday after the German Chancellor criticised Elon Musk’s support for “extreme-right positions" after the tech mogul backed Germany’s far-right AfD party and sparked criticism with a gesture some likened to a Nazi salute.
“We have freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany," Scholz told the World Economic Forum when asked about Musk, who made the gesture at an event marking US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
“Everyone can say what he wants even if he is a billionaire. What we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme right positions."
Elon Musk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have clashed over Scholz’s policies and over hot button issues like immigration and woke culture.
Musk quickly fired back on his social media platform X, writing above a post about the chancellor’s remarks: “Shame on Oaf Schitz!"
“Schitz" has no meaning in German.
The world’s richest man has sparked widespread anger in Germany with his backing for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of snap elections on February 23.
Earlier this month Musk hosted Alice Weidel, the AfD’s candidate to be German chancellor, for a wide-ranging livestream chat on X.
He has previously attacked Scholz on X, labelling the chancellor a “fool" after the implosion of the centre-left leader’s three-party coalition in November.
Scholz for his part earlier accused Musk of endangering “the democratic development of Europe" with his support for the far right.
(with inputs from AFP, Reuters)
Location :Davos, Switzerland
First Published:January 21, 2025, 22:54 IST
News world ‘Oaf Schitz’: Musk Takes Aim At Scholz After He Slams Billionaire For Backing Extreme-Right
