Musk's escalating criticism and mocking of European leaders and governments, which he has done repeatedly via X, the social media platform he owns, has sparked a backlash from

In an interview, Scholz brushed off the comments from Musk that have included him calling the German chancellor a "fool."

WASHINGTON − Elon Musk is keeping the pressure on European leaders. Musk frequently wields his 211.5-million-follower account on X, the social media platform he bought for $44 billion in 2022, to air political grievances and promote far-right issues.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said recent attacks from Elon Musk on him and some of the country’s other leading politicians don’t affect him or the nation’s democracy.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has issued a withering response to billionaire Elon Musk’s endorsement of the country’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany.

After pouring $260 million to help Trump get re-elected, the billionaire X owner is now training his eyes on Europe.

The Socialist chancellor’s comments are the latest sally in an ongoing feud with the tech entrepreneur-turned-social media mogul, who has called him “a fool” and claimed he will “lose” the German federal election set for Feb. 23. In this last instance, Musk referred to Scholz as “ Oaf Schitz .”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany’s election would “not be decided by the owners of social media channels” in his annual New Year’s Eve address.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered subtle criticism around billionaire Elon Musk’s influence on President-elect Trump early Tuesday, saying the nation’s fate will not be decided by

God! Martians! A “communist” Hitler! It was heavy on oddness and light on policy as the X owner and the AfD co-leader hit it off.

Musk earlier called Scholz an "incompetent fool" and signaled his support for Germany's anti-immigration AfD party.