"I feel more schadenfreude than pity for Musk"

"I feel more schadenfreude than pity for Musk" Hagen Strauß • 8 hours • 3 minutes reading time Berlin. What do you think? German politicians are reacting to the profit slump at Elon Musk's car manufacturer Tesla with both schadenfreude and concern. Only one party remains firmly behind Musk. Elon Musk no longer has reason to celebrate – Tesla is experiencing a massive drop in profits. Nine percent less sales in the first quarter of the year, a 71 percent drop in profits – since Elon Musk started swinging his chainsaw in the US for US President Donald Trump, things have been going downhill for the car manufacturer Tesla. There are also protests against Musk around the world. The company owner now wants to limit his work for Trump – German politicians are reacting with schadenfreude, but also with concern about the situation at the electric car manufacturer. Only the AfD remains firmly behind the tech billionaire. Left: Not tragic The Left Party leader, Jan van Aken, told our editorial team: "I don't think it's tragic that the richest man in the world earns less money from his cars. It's actually good news that it sometimes costs a billionaire something to get involved in politics." Van Aken added: "I feel more schadenfreude than pity for Musk, but I'm worried about the hardworking people at the Tesla factory in Brandenburg." The only factory in Germany is located in Grünheide, Brandenburg, and its construction was and remains controversial. The Left Party leader also emphasized that it must now be prevented "that Musk puts people on the street en masse to appease shareholders." The Tesla example shows that the economic and political power of billionaires must be limited. SPD: No wonder The SPD is also not surprised by the latest Tesla figures. Parliamentary group vice-chair Verena Hubertz told our editorial team: "If an entrepreneur like Elon Musk is more in the headlines for his controversial politics than for his products, then something is wrong." In this respect, "the financial markets' valuations are understandable, because buyers and investors are justifiably irritated by Musk's confusion," Hubertz said. Union: Zero Tariffs From the Union's perspective, Tesla's situation is also a signal to US President Trump. "Ever-increasing tariffs only create uncertainty and a poor business climate," said the parliamentary group's economic expert, Tilman Kuban (CDU). "So that Tesla and all other companies from the US and Germany can once again post more positive business figures, Donald Trump should accept the zero-tariff proposal for both sides as quickly as possible." Greens: Musk Failed In the Greens' view, Musk has failed across the board. When asked, parliamentary group deputy Andreas Audretsch explained: "With his job in the Trump administration, Elon Musk not only destroyed parts of the state, but also dragged Tesla into the abyss." Audretsch continued: "The democracy-threatening collaboration between the tech oligarch Musk and the autocrat Trump has failed." One cannot want to do international business "and at the same time erect tough national tariff walls with the US administration." Nor is it possible to recruit bright minds from abroad for one's own company while simultaneously pushing "a tough isolation policy with harassment and border fences," the Green Party member emphasized. AfD: Left-Wing Swamp Musk has recently become the figurehead of the AfD, which he has praised on several occasions. The billionaire spoke with party leader Alice Weidel on his platform X, and he joined the party conference at the start of the election campaign at the end of January. The AfD therefore remains firmly behind him. Party vice-chairman Stephan Brandner told our editorial team: "People say they're dead. And neither Musk nor Tesla are dead. Neither politically nor economically." Musk has "taken on the left-wing swamp." "They're hitting back with the unfortunately usual things like slander, physical attacks, and calls for boycotts." But that won't last, "and I still think it's good to have someone like Musk on the political right, i.e., the right side."