This Article is published in the context of JEF Europe’s Democracy Under Pressure (DUP) Action Week
Europe is no stranger to far-right and populist movements, and its modern landscape is shaped by the actions of its fascist past. The contemporary definition of the “far right”—also referred to as the radical right, reactionary right, populist right, and hard right—can trace its European origins to the late 1970s. Scholars generally accept this umbrella term to describe ideologies characterized by anti-immigration sentiments, extreme nationalism, and ethnocentrism, all while operating within the confines of the parliamentary system.
European far-right movements have emerged in response to increasing globalization and multiculturalism across the continent. The prospect of a united Europe seemed increasingly likely as global connections and institutions like the EU continued to grow, strengthening cross-cultural ties. While much of the continent was steadily developing, with citizens enjoying a rising standard of living, events beyond Europe’s control would ultimately shape its future.
The 2010 Arab Spring saw mass protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions across the Arab world as citizens sought more stable governance. In response, authoritarian regimes in the region, feeling increased pressure, intensified militarism and ethno-religious nationalism. The resulting conflicts and regional instability forced millions to flee, leading to the 2015 European migrant crisis.
In 2016, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, demonstrating to the European right that their rhetoric still had a place in leading the Western world. Then, the unthinkable happened: populist movements in the United Kingdom successfully pushed through the Brexit referendum, severing a key EU member state. Now, in 2025, Donald Trump has returned to the White House, and much like in the 2010s, Europe’s next crisis will not stem from an internal threat. Instead, European democracy faces a challenge from an unelected billionaire hoping to solidify his plutocracy: Elon Musk.
Elon and Italy
Elon Musk and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have maintained a relationship since her rise to power in 2022. Their growing connection first became public in June 2023, when Musk visited Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of the Prime Minister. There, both expressed a mutual alignment in ideals and personalities.
In December 2023, Meloni personally invited Musk to her Brothers of Italy party conference, where he addressed the crowd, emphasizing the need to “make more Italians to save Italy’s culture.” Musk also warned about the so-called “woke mind virus,” which he claims has overtaken the United States and the Western world. He pointed to illegal immigration as one of Italy’s greatest threats, earning thunderous applause from the audience.
In September 2024, the Atlantic Council, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, awarded Meloni the Global Citizen Award for her role in strengthening transatlantic relations over the past year. At her request, Musk presented her with the award, showering her with praise. “[She is] someone who is even more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside,” he remarked. Meloni responded by calling Musk a “precious genius” and emphasizing the value of words such as “patriotism” and “nation.”
Musk is reportedly in discussions with the Italian government regarding SpaceX’s encryption systems and Starlink satellite network. The proposed deal, valued at €1.5 billion, would be the largest of its kind and a direct competitor to the EU’s nascent IRIS2 project, which is scheduled for launch in 2029.
On January 4, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Musk held preliminary talks emphasizing transatlantic cooperation. Starlink, active in Italy since 2021 and serving over 50,000 customers, is slated for expansion, particularly its emergency services. With SpaceX also advancing Starsheild—a program aimed at defense and special operations—Italian Security Minister Guido Crosetto views a partnership with Musk as pivotal to Italy’s security development.
IRIS2 is an ambitious EU initiative to establish a multi-orbital satellite network for governmental and commercial use, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign nations and corporations. Described as a “paradigm shift,” the project is designed to secure European technological sovereignty. Italy is poised to play a central role, with the Fucino Space Centre set to host IRIS2’s main operations.
Italy’s potential alignment with SpaceX raises concerns about undermining the EU’s strategic goals. A partnership with Starlink could risk exposing sensitive defense data to a private company, posing security challenges for both Italy and the EU. Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has previously warned about the security risks posed by Starlink’s rapid expansion and its implications for EU manufacturers.
Musk and The United Kingdom
Following Trump’s re-election, Elon Musk has intensified his efforts to promote right-wing ideology across the Western world. He has positioned the United Kingdom—a key U.S. ally—as a new threat to the global order, shifting his support toward the right-wing, Euroskeptic Reform UK party. Led by Nigel Farage, Reform UK evolved from the Brexit Party and, after its initial success in 2020, has sought to become a viable governing party with policies centered on anti-immigration, low taxation, and opposition to net-zero climate policies.
In the July 2024 British elections, Reform UK placed third in the popular vote, securing 4,117,610 votes (14.3% of the total). However, due to the U.K.’s electoral system, the party received only 0.8% representation in Parliament. Farage has been a staunch critic of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, finding ideological allies among external figures like Musk.
In December 2024, Musk floated the idea of backing Reform UK with up to $100 million in campaign funds. The proposed donation was widely viewed as exploiting a loophole in British election laws, which impose strict limits on party spending but allow unlimited donations from U.K. voters or companies registered in Britain. Musk also ramped up his online rhetoric, likening Britain to the Soviet Union, accusing the government of political violence, and asserting that a “civil war is inevitable.” He further called for Starmer’s imprisonment, labeled the U.K. government as tyrannical, and accused it of being “rape apologists.”
A Musk alliance with Reform UK could provide the party with a powerful financial backer, potentially positioning it as a serious challenger to the centuries-old Conservative Party as the dominant right-wing force. However, by January 2025, tensions between Musk and Farage escalated rapidly. The rift stemmed from Farage’s decision to distance himself from anti-Islam activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (also known as Tommy Robinson), who is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court after falsely claiming that the U.K. government covered up child grooming scandals involving Pakistani immigrants.
Farage’s refusal to embrace Yaxley-Lennon infuriated Musk, who then publicly called for Farage’s removal as Reform UK leader, asserting that Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to save Britain from itself. Reform UK is now in a period of internal transition, with councilors resigning over leadership concerns and activists protesting Musk’s growing influence on the party.
Elon and AFD
Musk’s foray into European politics has spanned the entire continent, but perhaps his most significant and influential backing has been directed toward Germany’s far-right nationalist party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
Musk first expressed his sympathies for the AfD in September 2023, citing concerns that immigration was contributing to “European suicide” in relation to declining birth rates. In December 2024, following the collapse of the German government and the subsequent call for elections, Musk declared, “Only the AfD can save Germany.” Throughout 2024, the AfD was embroiled in a series of major scandals, including reports of secret deportation meetings and plots to overthrow the government. Leaders of other German parties, including former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz, have strongly condemned Musk’s role in influencing the German electoral process. However, within the AfD, Musk’s support has been seen as a rallying cry.
In January 2025, Musk urged Germans to vote for the AfD in the conservative newspaper Welt am Sonntag, prompting the editor to resign in protest. That same month, Musk joined AfD leader Alice Weidel for an interview on his platform X, drawing an audience of roughly 200,000 viewers. The discussion ranged from nuclear policy to immigration, during which Weidel abruptly claimed that Adolf Hitler was a “communist, socialist guy.” The interview concluded with Weidel praising Musk for offering a platform free of “criticism and negative framing.”
Following the interview, Scholz denounced Musk’s involvement, calling it “completely unacceptable” and asserting that foreign interference must not undermine the will of the German people.
Later in January 2025, Musk virtually attended and spoke at an AfD rally in Halle, where he was met with roaring applause from 4,000 attendees. He urged Germans to “take pride in their heritage” and reject multiculturalism, claiming it “dilutes everything.” In a remark that sparked outrage, Musk stated, “Frankly, [there is] too much of a focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that,” referencing Germany’s historical reckoning with Nazi atrocities. His comment came less than a week after he made a Nazi salute at Trump’s inauguration.
As Musk addressed the rally in Halle, tens of thousands of Germans took to the streets in Berlin and other major cities to protest the rise of the far-right.
Through both explicit support—via rallies, interviews, and endorsements—and implicit support—through the amplification of far-right rhetoric on X—Musk sought to boost AfD’s standing in the polls.
The February 23, 2025, German election resulted in a victory for the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Merz, which secured 28.2% of the vote. The AfD, however, celebrated historic gains, rising to second place with 20.8%. Following the election, Musk pinned a post on X labeled simply: “AfD.” And for What?
The world’s wealthiest man wields immense power and influence—not just through his vast fortune but also as the owner of X, where he commands a captive global audience to amplify his political agenda.
While Musk has previously flirted with right-wing policies, the past year has seen him launch a concentrated assault on European institutions and governments. His influence extends beyond the continent’s largest nations—he has also sought to sway politics in smaller countries like Romania and Slovakia.
However, Musk’s broad embrace of the European far-right has come with drastic financial consequences. Tesla sales in Europe dropped by 45% in January compared to the previous year, as Musk’s increasingly controversial rhetoric alienated traditional EV consumers.
With his economic standing in Europe taking a hit, questions arise about the true effectiveness of his actions. Back in 2022, his purchase of Twitter (now X) was widely regarded as a financial disaster. Yet, in retrospect, it may have been one of the savviest moves of his career—providing him with a direct avenue to influence global politics and securing a place alongside President Trump.
Perhaps Musk is now hoping to invest his way to power to the rest of the globe.
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