The publicity was a potential boon for AfD, which has been frozen out of mainstream politics, in part, because its leaders have downplayed Nazi atrocities.

Musk tested the boundaries of foreign election interference, hosting AfD co-leader Alice Weidel for a livestream interview on his X social media platform.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is preparing to host a live-streamed chat on his social media platform X on Thursday with a leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party, amplifying its message ahead of an upcoming national election and raising concerns across Europe about potential meddling by the world's richest man.