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.

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.

Musk's support for AfD has helped what was once a fringe political party enter the mainstream, lifting it up in front of a global audience.

American tech billionaire Elon Musk made a surprise address at the campaign launch for Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as thousands of people gathered across the country to protest the rise of the far-right party.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk addressed a rally for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday, urging attendees to move on from past guilt related to the country's Nazi history. Newsweek has contacted Musk via an email to Tesla for comment.

The billionaire was received by cheers while addressing a rally for Alternative for Germany where he told attendees they shouldn’t be ashamed of their history.

Musk's AfD support, followed a gesture many said resembled a Nazi salute, and came as leaders are due to observe the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO rallies party’s far-right supporters at end of week where he has been embroiled in controversy

On today’s Rising, Robby applauds the CIA for finally admitting that covid originated from a lab in Wuhan, China. President Donald Trump dismisses over a dozen attorneys general over the weekend. Colombia's president yields to Trump demands and accepts flights carrying deported Colombian nationals.