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Elon Musk addresses German far-right rally by video link, amid ‘Nazi salute’ controversy

In a video speech, the US tech billionaire urged supporters of the anti-immigration AfD party to ‘fight, fight, fight’ for Germany’s future

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks on-screen during an AfD campaign event in Halle, Germany, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

US tech billionaire Elon Musk gave a video address to a campaign rally of Germany’s anti-immigration AfD party Saturday, his latest show of support ahead of the country’s election next month.

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Musk told a gathering of thousands of AfD supporters in the eastern city of Halle that their party was “the best hope for the future of Germany”.

Musk has raised concern from some mainstream leaders who have accused him of interfering in European politics with comments on his social platform X about politicians in countries including Germany and Britain.

He also drew criticism this week for making a public hand gesture that was seen by some as resembling a straight-armed Nazi salute.

“The German people are really an ancient nation which goes back thousand of years,” he said in Saturday’s address.

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“I even read Julius Caesar was very impressed [by] the German tribes,” he said, urging the supporters to “fight, fight, fight” for their country’s future.

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