Let's fact-check the claims made in the text: 1.
Original video: https://x.com/i/status/1879582634638188571
Fact checked on: January 16, 2025
Fact Check Analysis
Let's fact-check the claims made in the text:
1. BBC Radio Interview: The text claims that the BBC conducted a radio interview with the speaker. This is a verifiable claim, but without specific details such as the date or the speaker's identity, it cannot be confirmed from the text alone.
2. Nazi References from AfD Members: The text mentions that AfD members have made Nazi references, specifically mentioning Björn Höcke using a Nazi slogan. This is a verifiable claim. Björn Höcke, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has been criticized for using language reminiscent of Nazi slogans. In 2018, he was reported to have used the phrase "Alles für Deutschland" (Everything for Germany), which was a slogan of the Nazi SA (Sturmabteilung). This claim is accurate.
3. Elon Musk's Election Interference in Europe: The text suggests that Elon Musk is interfering in European elections. This is a complex claim. While Elon Musk has expressed opinions on political matters and hosted discussions on his platform X (formerly Twitter), there is no concrete evidence to suggest he has engaged in direct election interference in Europe. This claim lacks substantiated evidence and is more of an opinion or interpretation.
4. George Soros and the Green Party: The text claims that George Soros published a letter stating that the Green Party is the only hope for Europe and that the AfD must be destroyed. This specific claim about a letter is not verifiable. George Soros is known for supporting liberal causes and has been a frequent target of conspiracy theories, but there is no public record of such a letter explicitly stating these points.
5. Alice Weidel and German Mainstream TV: The text claims that Alice Weidel was denied a chance to speak on German mainstream TV, leading to a space on X. Alice Weidel is a prominent AfD politician, and while there may be instances where she was not invited to certain TV programs, the claim that she was categorically denied a platform is not verifiable without specific examples.
6. Funding by Bill Gates and George Soros: The text claims that Bill Gates and George Soros fund their causes through NGOs with hundreds of millions of dollars. Both individuals are known for their philanthropic activities and have funded various initiatives through their respective foundations. This claim is generally accurate, though the exact amounts and specific causes would require further detail to verify fully.
Overall, the text contains a mix of verifiable facts, opinions, and claims that lack sufficient evidence. Some statements are accurate, while others are interpretations or require more context to assess their validity.
1. BBC Radio Interview: The text claims that the BBC conducted a radio interview with the speaker. This is a verifiable claim, but without specific details such as the date or the speaker's identity, it cannot be confirmed from the text alone.
2. Nazi References from AfD Members: The text mentions that AfD members have made Nazi references, specifically mentioning Björn Höcke using a Nazi slogan. This is a verifiable claim. Björn Höcke, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has been criticized for using language reminiscent of Nazi slogans. In 2018, he was reported to have used the phrase "Alles für Deutschland" (Everything for Germany), which was a slogan of the Nazi SA (Sturmabteilung). This claim is accurate.
3. Elon Musk's Election Interference in Europe: The text suggests that Elon Musk is interfering in European elections. This is a complex claim. While Elon Musk has expressed opinions on political matters and hosted discussions on his platform X (formerly Twitter), there is no concrete evidence to suggest he has engaged in direct election interference in Europe. This claim lacks substantiated evidence and is more of an opinion or interpretation.
4. George Soros and the Green Party: The text claims that George Soros published a letter stating that the Green Party is the only hope for Europe and that the AfD must be destroyed. This specific claim about a letter is not verifiable. George Soros is known for supporting liberal causes and has been a frequent target of conspiracy theories, but there is no public record of such a letter explicitly stating these points.
5. Alice Weidel and German Mainstream TV: The text claims that Alice Weidel was denied a chance to speak on German mainstream TV, leading to a space on X. Alice Weidel is a prominent AfD politician, and while there may be instances where she was not invited to certain TV programs, the claim that she was categorically denied a platform is not verifiable without specific examples.
6. Funding by Bill Gates and George Soros: The text claims that Bill Gates and George Soros fund their causes through NGOs with hundreds of millions of dollars. Both individuals are known for their philanthropic activities and have funded various initiatives through their respective foundations. This claim is generally accurate, though the exact amounts and specific causes would require further detail to verify fully.
Overall, the text contains a mix of verifiable facts, opinions, and claims that lack sufficient evidence. Some statements are accurate, while others are interpretations or require more context to assess their validity.
Video transcript
BBC did a radio interview with me and once again I had no idea what I was getting myself into and what their intentions were. Well, it turns out that the interviewer would bombard me with hard-hitting, highly critical questions about Nazi references from AFD members and Elon Musk's election interference in Europe. So, if you are interested in my very passionate answers, then I will release this interview on X. And respect to you, BBC, for actually publishing the majority of this interview. Those critics who you referred to, who would look to the 1930s as part of the reason for their criticism, would point to the fact that over the past year, for example, there have been scandals in the party over senior members playing down SS war crimes and there have been fines for those who've used Nazi slogans in speeches. So, there is a crystal clear reason why some people are deeply sceptical and, frankly, quite worried about this party. Understandably so, because that is the media narrative that has been spread about... But they happened, those incidents, didn't they? I will happily get into these particular issues. Let's go into the Nazi slogan, that was everything for Germany. That was said by Björn Höcker. That is not something that you would immediately recognise as a Nazi slogan. It was a banned Nazi phrase that he denied doing so knowingly, but he still did it. Yes, he still did it because he didn't know that it was a Nazi phrase. I wouldn't know it either. So, ignorance is an acceptable defence in that situation, is it? Should he not have found out more before he said it? I mean, the Nazis said good morning a lot. The Nazis said good morning a lot. Not as a slogan. Should that be banned as well? Not as a slogan. No, not as a slogan. I am aware. But you don't seem to understand my comparison. What I am saying is that how am I supposed to be aware? I don't know every single slogan that the Nazis said. And you need to just play the science of deduction game. Why would he say such a thing to appeal to some kind of underground movement of Nazis within the AFD supporters? But then, how are you going to win the party with this kind of Nazi slogan or Nazi underground movement, which clearly doesn't represent the AFD as a whole? So, if it came out at some point that he actually tried to promote a Nazi slogan, then he would be banned from the AFD. And most people who support the AFD, quite obviously, don't support Nazi values. So, they wouldn't support the party in the first place. You'd want people banned in those circumstances, as you've just hinted here. Obviously. If I found out that he actually meant harm, absolutely. I wouldn't want him to be in the AFD. I just wanted to ask you, there's a broader point here, isn't there, about Elon Musk and what he is saying about not just Germany, but quite a lot of other European countries and the politics of those European countries, democratic countries, countries where people live and can choose who their leaders are in elections. And he's now looking to interfere in a number of those, isn't he? Are you entirely comfortable with somebody from outside those countries operating in the way that he has in recent weeks? I am absolutely comfortable with Elon Musk uttering his opinion, just like our politicians, for example, Olaf Scholz, criticising Donald Trump overseas in America. But Elon Musk is not an elected figure. That's the point I'm getting at. He's a very, very wealthy, arguably the wealthiest man in the world. So, therefore, he can wield that power and influence. Absolutely. They are equally influential and wealthy. But are you comfortable with that concept, people who are unelected, having the level of influence they might have? I'm absolutely not comfortable with George Soros publishing a letter saying that the Green Party is the only hope for Europe and that the AfD must be destroyed in Europe because they are overtaking our society. So you pick and choose your wealthy influences is the point I'm getting at. No, that's not the point I'm getting at. Those people, Bill Gates and George Soros, have been funding their causes through these NGOs with hundreds of millions of dollars. But Elon Musk has done no such thing. He has simply uttered his opinion and gave Alice Weidel the opportunity to host a space with him in a conversation. So I don't think you can compare those two. He's not interfering. He's giving us a chance of free speech because Alice Weidel was denied this chance on German mainstream TV. That is, by the way, initially why I suggested for them to do the space on X.