German Chancellor Olaf Scholz subtly criticized billionaire Elon Musk’s influence on President-elect Trump, stating that Germany’s future would not be determined by “the owners of social media.”

In his New Year’s Eve message, Scholz warned against extreme opinions gaining attention and stressed that Germany’s direction should be guided by the majority of reasonable people.

His comments followed accusations that Musk had attempted to influence Germany’s upcoming election, including writing an op-ed supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Scholz also highlighted the dangers of disinformation on social media, particularly regarding the Magdeburg Christmas market attack, The Hill has reported.

Meanwhile, Musk’s influence on Trump has sparked debate, with some speculating about his role in Trump’s political decisions.

Written by B.C. Begley