In Davos, Switzerland, on January 21, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that he does not endorse freedom of speech when it promotes extreme-right ideologies. This statement came on the heels of a hand gesture by Elon Musk during Donald Trump's inauguration.
"We have freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany. Everyone can express their opinions, regardless of their wealth. However, we cannot condone support for extreme-right ideologies," Scholz remarked when addressing the incident.
Online critics likened Musk's gesture at Trump's inauguration to a Nazi salute, prompting Musk to brush off the backlash as a "tired" attack.
Responding on X, a platform he owns, Musk referred to Scholz as "Oaf Schitz," posting a video clip of him speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Musk clarified later that "Schitz" has no meaning in German.
Musk, on X, went on to call Scholz an "incompetent fool," urging his resignation following a tragic incident at a German Christmas market. Musk has additionally expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on the platform.
While Musk's alignment with the AfD has sparked criticism in Berlin, the German government has not taken unified action to leave his platform. The European Commission has intensified its scrutiny of whether X has violated EU regulations on content moderation.
The Commission monitored Musk's hosting of AfD leader Alice Weidel on X, watching for any dissemination of misinformation during their discussion.