Norwegian PM Worried Elon Musk Trump's Right Hand Too Mixed European Country's Politics

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere/PHOTO via Instagram @jonasgahrs

JAKARTA - Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said he was worried that billionaire Elon Musk would interfere in the political problems of countries outside the United States.

Musk, a close person to US President-elect Donald Trump, last month supported Germany's anti-immigration party ahead of parliamentary elections in February 2025. Musk has also repeatedly commented on British politics while demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer resign.

"I'm worried if someone who has major access to social media and large economic resources involves himself directly in the domestic affairs of other countries," Stoere told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK on Monday, January 6.

"This is not what should happen between a democratic country and its allies," he added.

If Musk wants to engage himself in Norwegian politics, politicians in the country, continued Stoere, must collectively distance themselves from these efforts.

Stoere's minority government, which consists of a smaller left-handed Labor Party and Central Party, lags behind far-right parties in polls ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for September this year.

But Stoere reiterated he plans to lead the government into parliamentary elections, but has rejected calls from some in his own party to step down.

"I am very motivated to become a party leader and prime minister, as well as win the election," he said.

Musk, the world's richest man, spent more than $250 million to help Trump be elected. He was asked by Trump to cut the federal budget as a special advisor.

The German government last week accused Musk, owner of social media platform X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, of trying to influence Germany's upcoming elections with a guest opinion article for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.