Could Emmanuel Macron be Elon Musk’s next target?

Days before Christmas, the BBC published an article on its website headlined ‘Elon Musk’s curious fixation with Britain’. The broadcaster was anxious to discuss why Donald Trump’s right-hand man was taking such an interest in British affairs from across the pond.

It turns out that Musk – who will be Trump’s efficiency tsar when he becomes president this month – is also keen to cast a critical eye over Germany’s domestic travails.

Last weekend, he endorsed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an op-ed published in Welt, a conservative daily. Ahead of February’s general election, Musk described the right-wing AfD as the ‘last spark of hope’ for Germany. This, he claimed, was because the ‘traditional parties have failed… their policies have led to economic stagnation, social unrest, and the erosion of national identity.’

Just as the left in Britain have bridled at Musk’s musings on everything from Jess Phillips to Labour’s tax raid on farmers, so have his comments about Germany’s progressive politicians caused indignation.