BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Even before Elon Musk did a Hitler salute at a Trump rally, he was already comfortable amplifying neo-Nazi rhetoric.
His actions — both explicit and subtle — have cultivated communities on X where extremist ideologies are flourishing. His social media platform has become a breeding ground for hate speech, and his endorsements from far-right political figures only serve to embolden extremists.
It’s official time to realize what Musk represents — a billionaire with an agenda that threatens democracy and promotes antisemitism under the guise of free speech.
Elon Musk isn’t just an entrepreneur dabbling in politics — he is working to erode boundaries that have kept far-right movements in check.
In Germany — a nation that has worked to make amends for its Nazi past — Musk is attempting to break the political quarantine surrounding the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that’s widely recognized as extremist because of its antiemetic agenda. He is doing this by giving its chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, an international platform and encouraging Germans to vote for the AfD.
The AfD has been ostracised by Germany’s mainstream political establishment for good reasons.
Multiple members have been expelled for using Nazi slogans, and the party itself is under surveillance by German intelligence agencies for its antisemitic tendencies.
The party’s youth wing, along with three of its state chapters, is classified as a confirmed far-right extremist organization. Yet Musk is determined to portray them as “sensible” and “the only party that can save Germany,” as he mentioned at an AfD convention.
X has transformed into a megaphone for right-wing influencers, many of whom peddle misinformation, xenophobia and hate speech. And while Musk claims to be a free speech absolutist — he selectively amplifies far-right voices while cracking down on journalists who go against what he has to say.
Studies show that antisemitic posts more than doubled after Musk took control of the platform. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue and CASM Technology found that antisemitic hate speech has remained consistently high under his ownership. New accounts created after his acquisition showed a threefold increase in the rate of antisemitic content. This is not a coincidence.
It’s time to stop treating Musk as a free-speech leader. He is shaping politics in ways that threaten democracy and promote antisemitism.
debelljb22@bonaventure.edu
