Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, has reportedly kept in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal. Musk has not commented on these allegations.
The report indicates that Musk and Putin have discussed various subjects, ranging from personal matters to global issues. Sources cited by the WSJ claim that during one conversation, Putin requested Musk not to activate his Starlink satellites over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
These revelations emerge as Musk has shown heightened interest in the upcoming US presidential race amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Musk, the world’s richest individual, has publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump, who has also been rumored to maintain ties with Putin, despite denying such claims.
Musk has faced accusations of selling Starlink terminals to Russia during the war with Ukraine, but he has dismissed these reports as “categorically false.” If true, Musk’s continued communications with Putin could raise significant national security concerns, particularly since his companies, including SpaceX, have substantial business relationships with the US military and government agencies, providing him access to sensitive information. The New York Times reported that Musk secured $3 billion in contracts from various federal agencies last year.
Trump has suggested that Musk would play a significant role in his administration should he win a second term. Critics are worried that Musk’s connection with Putin could influence future federal contracts involving his companies, such as Tesla and SpaceX.
Previously, Musk downplayed the frequency of his contact with Putin. In October 2022, he stated on X that he had spoken to Putin only once, approximately 18 months earlier, and that their discussion was focused on space. This statement came after political scientist Ian Bremmer alleged that Musk had talked with Putin about the Ukraine war in late 2022.
