Elon Musk created yet another controversy this week when he agreed with far-right German politician Alice Weidel that Adolf Hitler was a communist.

Spotted by Wired, Musk engaged in a bizarre interview with Weidel, in which the German politician tried to claim that Hitler was a communist.

“[Hitler] was a communist, and he considered himself as a socialist,” Weidel said.

“The biggest success after that terrible era in our history was to label Adolf Hitler as right[-wing] and conservative, he was exactly the opposite,” Weidel added. “He wasn’t a conservative, he wasn’t a libertarian, he was a communist, socialist guy, and we are the opposite.”

“Right,” Musk responded.

Grok Disagrees With Musk

Grok, Musk’s own AI model, disagreed with the tech executive, saying his agreement with Weidel “appears to be rooted in a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of historical facts.”

When asked if Hitler was a communist, Grok replied with the following:

Adolf Hitler was vehemently opposed to communism. His stance was characterized by:

• Ideological Opposition: Hitler viewed communism as an existential threat to his vision of a racially pure, authoritarian state. The Nazi ideology was fundamentally nationalistic, emphasizing racial purity and the superiority of the Aryan race, whereas communism advocated for a classless society and international proletarian solidarity, which directly contradicted Nazi principles.
• Political Rhetoric: In “Mein Kampf,” Hitler explicitly attacked communism, associating it with Jewish Bolshevism, a term he used to link communism with Jewish influence, thereby promoting antisemitism. He argued that communism was part of a Jewish plot to undermine Germany and other nations.
• Practical Actions: Hitler and the Nazi party actively fought against communist groups in Germany. Once in power, the Nazis outlawed the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) shortly after the Reichstag Fire in 1933, using it as a pretext to arrest communist leaders and suppress the party.
• Foreign Policy: Hitler’s foreign policy also reflected his anti-communist stance. His invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Operation Barbarossa, was not only an attempt to gain “Lebensraum” (living space) for Germans but also a crusade against what he saw as the embodiment of communism.
• Propaganda: Nazi propaganda continuously depicted communists as subversive, anti-German, and part of a broader conspiracy against the nation, which was used to justify harsh measures against them.

In summary, Hitler’s opposition to communism was both ideological and strategic, serving as a core component of his political agenda and propaganda.

When asked why Musk agreed with Weidel, Grok responded with the following:

Elon Musk’s agreement with Alice Weidel’s claim that Adolf Hitler was a communist appears to be rooted in a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of historical facts. Here’s a breakdown based on the available context:

1. Misinterpretation of “National Socialism”:

Weidel and Musk seem to focus on the “Socialist” aspect of the Nazi Party’s name, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP). However, despite the name, the Nazis were fundamentally anti-communist and anti-socialist in practice. Their socialism was more about national unity and control rather than the traditional socialist principles of workers’ rights and collective ownership.

2. Echo Chamber Effect on Social Media:
   There’s a trend where social media can amplify fringe views or misconceptions. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) indicate that this conversation was part of a broader discussion where Weidel made this claim, and Musk did not challenge it, possibly indicating an endorsement or at least a lack of correction. This might reflect Musk’s engagement with or exposure to a certain political narrative without a deep dive into historical nuance.
3. Political Strategy or Misinformation:
   Weidel, as a leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right party, might use such claims to distance her party from historical associations with Nazism by redefining Hitler’s political stance. By labeling Hitler as a “communist,” it could serve a strategy to frame the AfD as “anti-Nazi” by contrasting their conservative, libertarian ideals against what they call “Hitler’s communism.” This tactic could appeal to those who seek to reject the far-right label while simultaneously spreading misinformation.
4. Historical Revisionism:
   The assertion that Hitler was a communist contradicts well-documented historical facts. Hitler was openly anti-communist, as seen in his actions, writings, and policies. His regime persecuted communists, socialists, and trade unionists. This narrative could be part of a broader historical revisionism where complex historical figures are oversimplified or misrepresented for political gain.
5. Lack of Historical Context:
   Musk’s agreement might also reflect a lack of detailed knowledge on the subject or an over-simplification of complex ideological histories. His public endorsements and interactions seem to be more about engaging with current political discourse rather than providing a scholarly analysis of historical figures.

In conclusion, Musk’s agreement with Weidel’s claim appears to be based on a significant misrepresentation of history, possibly influenced by current political narratives or a lack of in-depth understanding of the ideological nuances of the Nazi regime. This stance diverges sharply from the historical consensus that Hitler was a fascist dictator who was vehemently opposed to communism.

Musk’s Response Underscores the Risk to His Companies

Musk’s response and engagement with Weidel underscores the growing risks associated with the executive’s increasingly controversial stance on issues.

Musk’s handling of the Twitter purchase, defaulting on leases, refusing to honor severance agreements, banning journalists who disagree with him from X (despite claiming to be a free speech advocate), and much more has contributed to Tesla’s “consideration score” cratering in recent years.

Market intelligence firm Caliber monitors brands’ consideration scores, based on a variety of factors. According to the firm, Tesla’s score dropped from 70% in 2021 to a mere 31% in 2024.

“It’s very likely that Musk himself is contributing to the reputational downfall,” said Caliber CEO Shahar Silbershatz.

It’s a safe bet that Musk agreeing with the leader of a political party with ties to neo-Nazism is not going to help his companies, a point Grok itself makes:

Elon Musk’s alignment with Alice Weidel, particularly in light of her party’s (Alternative for Germany or AfD) ties to neo-Nazism, could indeed have repercussions for his companies.