Angela Merkel, who in her new memoir raises fears for the western democratic order with Donald Trump as US president, has also expressed deep concerns about the outsized role to be played in Trump’s administration by Elon Musk.
The former German chancellor, who during Trump’s first term was given by some observers the designation of “leader of the free world” usually reserved for US presidents, said 16 years in power had taught her that business and political interests must be kept in fine balance.
Asked by Der Spiegel magazine in an interview whether the challenge posed by Trump had grown since he was first elected in 2016, Merkel responded: “There is now a visible alliance between him with the big companies from Silicon Valley which have enormous power through capital.”
Musk, who is advising Trump on his second term, has been tasked by the president-elect with leading a newly created department of government efficiency along with Vivek Ramaswamy. Merkel said the SpaceX and Tesla chief’s financial entanglements made such an appointment highly problematic.
“If a person like him is the owner of 60% of all satellites orbiting in space, then that must be a huge concern for us along with the political issues,” she said. “Politics must determine the social balance between the powerful and ordinary citizens.” » | Deborah Cole in Berlin | Friday, November 22, 2024
Ich habe den allergrößten Respekt vor Frau Merkel. Die Welt braucht in dieser kritischen Lage Führungspersönlichkeiten wie sie. Ich fürchte, daß Amerika unter Trump in die Dunkelheit versinken wird. Und in der Folge auch der Rest des Westens. — © Mark Alexander
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