Elon Musk’s controversial remarks about “Nazi guilt” trigger a boycott wave of Tesla in Europe (X @elonmusk – Instagram @teslamotors)
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, sparked controversy in Europe after making controversial comments about “Nazi guilt” just days before the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
In a virtual speech to the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AFD), Musk stated that Germany focuses too much on the guilt of the past, and that the new generations should not be held responsible for the mistakes of their parents or grandparents.
His statements attracted criticism, especially since they coincided with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where around 1.1 million people were killed during World War II, most of them Jews.
After Musk’s remarks, Polish Minister Sławomir Nitras called for a national boycott of Tesla, stating that “no normal Polish person” should buy the brand’s cars. Nitras emphasized that, while Musk with his fortune may not feel the threat, any ordinary person living in the heart of Europe could not remain indifferent to these historical events. He also warned that such ideas could resurface in the future, especially on dates like the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and that the truth must be defended.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also criticized Musk’s words, calling them “sinister,” especially because they occurred so close to the date marking the liberation of the concentration camp.
Musk, who had already caused controversy by supporting the far-right party in Germany, saw his statements provoke a strong public and political reaction, sparking discussions about historical memory and the risks of downplaying the horrors of the past.
Source: Unilad | Photo: X @elonmusk – Instagram @teslamotors | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Elon Musk tells a far-right AfD rally that there is “too much focus on past guilt” in Germany, and children should “not feel guilty” if their grandparents were Nazis because they need to “preserve German culture” pic.twitter.com/e8uns9ejYh
— FactPost (@factpostnews) January 26, 2025
