Elon Musk has ignited a heated debate in Germany after calling out Chancellor Olaf Scholz over a controversial tweet by satirist Sebastian Hotz, known as "El Hotzo".

The incident has exposed tensions surrounding free speech and political double standards in the country as prominent leftist influencers are funded by tax dollars while right-wing publications are cracked down on.

Hotz, a 28-year-old comedian known for his Marxist-aligned political satire, published posts that supported the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump. The posts, which have since been deleted, sparked outrage and led to calls for legal action and his dismissal from public broadcaster RBB.

Someone wishing death on the leading US Presidential candidate and myself is paid to do so by the German government?@Bundeskanzler, was ist das? https://t.co/qB6CslUQ2D

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2024

Hotz's remarks were highlighted by German right-wing commentator Naomi Seibt, who exposed him for also calling for Elon Musk's death.

"This was not the first time he showed his true colors, He hopes that Elon Musk gets killed too. His openly Marxist views inspire a whole generation," wrote Seibt on X. "He has gone too far."

In response to the controversy, RBB canceled Hotz's regular program and severed ties with the satirist. Program director Katrin Günther stated, "His statements are not compatible with the values that RBB stands for," Euronews reported.

The incident has highlighted perceived double standards in Germany's approach to free speech.

Nothing to see here. Just a Santa Claus in Germany being arrested at a Christmas market for not wearing a mask.

Check out @SheilaGunnReid and @ThevoiceAlexa’s reaction from today’s livestream.

NEVER MISS A FUTURE LIVESTREAM: https://t.co/WLIFMCtmFa pic.twitter.com/MGZfvc8CaY

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) December 14, 2021

While some conservatives celebrated Hotz's firing, critics on the left pointed out that right-wing figures have faced less severe consequences for similar controversies. For instance, CDU politician Frank Bommert received only a "yellow card" warning for a politically charged joke about the deaths of government officials.

Musk's intervention, questioning why the German government pays Hotz has further internationalized the debate. The billionaire's tweet, "Chancellor, was ist das," directly challenged Scholz to address the situation.

Hotz has responded by directing his followers to a donation page for the aid organization Medico and declaring himself "Germany's cheekiest unemployed person" on X.

#BREAKING:
🇩🇪German police raid the home of the publisher of right-wing Compact Magazine
The Ministry of the Interior of the left-wing, green-liberal government in Germany has banned the right-wing news magazine Compact because it allegedly pic.twitter.com/qCNnpnWJIS

— Uncensored News (@Uncensorednewsw) July 16, 2024

The incident comes as Germany banned COMPACT magazine, a right-wing publication critical of the government. Germany's federal minister of the interior Nancy Faeser, who ordered the ban and arrest of its publisher, accused it of publishing incitement against minorities and described it as a "key mouthpiece for the far-right scene."

The ban "shows that we are acting against the intellectual arsonists who create a climate of hatred and violence towards refugees and migrants and who want to bring down the democratic state", she said, per Barrons. "This magazine promotes unspeakable incitement against Jews, people with an immigrant background and against our parliamentary democracy."