Germany’s carnival season kicked off, and let’s just say — not everyone was in the mood to party. Some of the floats at this year’s parades in Cologne and Düsseldorf caught a lot of attention, and not in a good way.
Not just fun, colorful displays — they were full-on, in-your-face political statements. And if you happened to be Donald Trump, Elon Musk, or Vladimir Putin, well… it wasn’t your best day.
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Warning: NS*FW content ahead.
The controversial floats triggered a massive online debate
The parades featured giant, exaggerated versions of these three men, and people had a lot to say about it. Some thought it was brilliant satire, others felt it was taking things way too far.
Either way, it turned into a massive online debate, with people going back and forth about whether this was bold political art or just plain offensive.
Elon Musk’s float made a particularly strong statement
Elon Musk’s float was… a lot. He was shown in a diaper, running from someone trying to put him in a straightjacket.
And that’s not all — he had a megaphone with the Twitter logo, literally spewing out poop, while waving an American flag shaped like a sw*stika.
Subtle? Not even a little bit. People definitely got the message loud and clear.
Trump and Putin were portrayed as allies at the expense of Ukraine
Then there was the Trump and Putin float. It showed them shaking hands — bloodied hands, to be exact — while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looked completely crushed between them.
The float even had the words “Hitler-Stalin Pact 2.0” written on it, referencing the 1939 agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It was a not-so-gentle way of comparing today’s political situation to some of the darkest moments in history.
Supporters praised the satire for its boldness and creativity
Not everyone was mad about the floats, though. Plenty of people online thought they were clever and much-needed.
One user wrote: “Elon Musk performed a ‘roman’ salute, called Hitler a communist, and endorsed a far-right party in Germany — yet his fanboys are outraged because a Düsseldorf carnival float depicted him next to a sw*stika? The irony is almost painful.”
Another one loved how bold it was, saying: “Those Düsseldorf floats roasting Trump, Putin, and Musk are pure gold! Germany’s carnival satire nails the absurdity of these leaders. Cheers to calling out their chaos with creativity!”
Critics argued that the floats went too far
Of course, not everyone saw it that way. Some thought the whole thing was just unnecessary and a bit much.
One person wasn’t impressed and said: “It’s wild how quickly things escalate. Art and satire have always pushed boundaries, but this level of political commentary seems pretty intense.
“Everyone’s got their own views, but it’s important to keep conversations respectful and grounded in facts.”
Some questioned the obsession with these figures
There were people who just didn’t get why Musk was even part of this. One person commented: “Imagine how obsessed and threatened they must be by Elon? This whole thing and he lives in another country.”
Looks like these floats did more than just roll down the street — they set the internet on fire.
