Elon Musk has once again caused a stir in Europe after making a controversial ‘Nazi guilt’ comment just days before the anniversary of the liberation of the notorious concentration camp, Auschwitz.
It comes just over a week after the world’s richest man was accused not once, but twice, giving a ‘Nazi salute’ during President Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
The Tesla CEO has also faced criticism from car-maker rivals after throwing his support behind far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AFD), claiming it is the country’s ‘only savior.’
And after his latest remarks, a Polish minister has called for a nation-wide Tesla boycott, claiming ‘no normal Pole’ should be buying the brand.
On Saturday, Musk gave a speech during a virtual campaign for the controversial German party, where he claimed the country ‘focuses too much on past guilt’ which is something that needs to be ‘moved past’.
“Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents or even their great grandparents,” he said.
His remarks echo the stance held by far-right Germans in an attempt to bury their Erinnerungskultur – or ‘culture of remembrance’.
Musk’s comments came weeks before Germany’s February 23 election and two days before the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, one of the many concentration camps operated by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Some 1.1 million people were murdered at the camp – located in Poland – between 1940 and 1945, the majority of who were Jewish.
Polish Sport and Tourism Minister Sławomir Nitras condemned Musk’s comments and has since called for a Tesla boycott.
“No normal Pole should buy a Tesla anymore. There needs to be a serious and tough response to this, including something like a consumer boycott,” Nitras told Polish media on Monday.
Further reprimanding Musk, Nitras said the tech entrepreneur ‘with his billions may not feel the threat,’ but that ‘any ordinary person living in the heart of Europe, who surely remembers what happened 80 years ago, cannot look on indifferently.’
He continued: “This is a hydra that can reappear. Especially on a day like the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we must remember this and speak out loudly in defence of the truth.”
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Nitras highlighted that the billionaire’s statement ‘says more about Musk than about Germany,’ adding that he hopes ‘Musk’s remarks will lead to the AfD getting a worse result than the polls have predicted.’
“Nobody likes interference in their internal affairs,” he said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also laid into Musk, describing his comments as ‘ominous, especially just hours before the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.’
