Merkel expresses 'huge concern' over Musk's role in US government

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 his administration by Elon Musk.

- Deborah Cole

The former German chancellor, who during Trump's first term was given the designation by some observers 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 elected in 2016, Merkel said: "There is now a visible alliance between him and the big companies from Silicon Valley which have enormous power through capital."

Elon 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.