Elon Musk on 3 August urged Ireland and all other European Union members to quit the bloc, arguing that the EU is “destroying democracy in Europe.” His remarks were made in a broad political appeal that quickly drew international attention. Former German chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking the same day at the World Economic Forum, rejected Musk’s comments. “We have freedom of speech in Europe,” Scholz said, adding that what he would not accept is support for “extreme right positions.”