BERLIN — Billionaire Elon Musk is trying to exert influence over the German election taking place in February, a government spokesperson said on Monday.

“It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election,” with X posts and an opinion piece he wrote backing the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) over the weekend, she said.

Musk was free to express his opinion, the spokesperson added. “After all, freedom of opinion also covers the greatest…