The tycoon’s statements criticizing German leaders “cross the line between friendly states,” says Rolf Mutzenich of the SPD.
Elon Musk’s verbal attacks on German leaders risk straining relations between Berlin and Washington, warned Rolf Mutzenich, head of the parliamentary group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).
In an interview with Spiegel on Wednesday, Mutzenich criticized the South Africa-born, U.S.-based billionaire for his attacks on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Musk had referred to Steinmeier as a “undemocratic tyrant” and predicted the electoral defeat of Scholz – whom he described as “silly” and “Papa Schitz.” He has also expressed his support for the far-right, anti-immigration German party Alternative for Germany (AfD), calling it “The last spark of hope for this country.”
Mutzenich accused Musk, one of the most prominent allies of US President-elect Donald Trump, of “cross a line between friendly states” while defending Steinmeier. He argued that Steinmeier is Germany’s head of state under international law, meaning that “Therefore, the verbal attacks against the federal president are directed at all citizens.”
Mutzenich urged Berlin to clarify whether Musk’s repeated statements “disrespect, defamation and interference” align with the position of the incoming Trump administration.
German officials previously suggested that Musk’s comments could be a potential attempt to influence Germany’s snap parliamentary elections in February. Scholz’s coalition government recently collapsed over disagreements over aid to Ukraine, economic reforms and climate policy, leading to a no-confidence vote and parliamentary dissolution in December.
During Trump’s first term, he criticized Germany’s significant trade surplus with the United States and threatened to impose tariffs on German cars. He repeatedly accused Berlin of failing to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP defense spending target and called Germany too dependent on American military support. Trump also opposed the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which was sabotaged in 2022 following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, arguing that it would increase the EU’s energy dependence on Moscow.
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