He is a close ally of conservative U.S. President Donald Trump and has, much to the ire of Scholz, spent the past few weeks boosting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of a national snap election on Feb. 23. The AfD is currently riding high in polls ahead of the vote.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday sharply criticized Elon Musk's backing of the right-wing parties in the European Union, calling it "really disgusting" and said it was hindering democracy in the bloc.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took an opportunity on the campaign trail Tuesday to criticize Elon Musk, telling CNN that the US billionaire “is intervening in favor of right-wing politicians all over Europe.

BERLIN - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday sharply criticized Elon Musk's backing of the right-wing parties in the European Union, calling it \"really disgusting\" and said it was hindering democracy in the bloc.