Elon Musk’s secret conversations with Putin raise security concerns: Report

Oct 25, 2024

Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)

New details indicate Elon Musk has been in regular communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Journal reports that Musk’s conversations with Putin have included personal, business and geopolitical topics. Those conversations raised questions about national security due to Musk’s role in U.S. space operations and his increasing political influence.

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These interactions have reportedly been confirmed by U.S., European and Russian officials.

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One discussion last year reportedly involved a request from Putin. The request asked Musk not to activate his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan. This was allegedly as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Musk’s response remains undisclosed, though his international dealings are considered particularly sensitive given his influence in defense technology.

Initially, Musk’s Starlink service supported Ukraine with thousands of internet terminals to aid communication in conflict zones. However, by late 2022, Musk restricted Starlink’s use for offensive operations. This came after Ukraine sought to employ it in a Crimea-bound drone mission. Musk cited concerns over escalation, reportedly following communications from Russian officials suggesting potential nuclear retaliation.

Musk has also become a notable supporter of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. He has pledged millions monthly to a pro-Trump super PAC. Trump has indicated Musk would lead a “government efficiency commission” if Trump were to win, further positioning Musk as a key ally and backer.

Musk’s growing role in U.S. politics has prompted questions about his alignment with American interests, given his access to sensitive government contracts and his influence over critical U.S. space and satellite technologies. Musk has not publicly responded to recent reports.

Tags: Aerospace, China, Elon Musk, National Security, People’s Republic of China, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Russian Defense Ministry, Space Technology, Starlink, Taiwan, Ukraine, Ukraine Defense Ministry, Vladimir Putin, Wall Street Journal, Xi Jinping

[craig nigrelli]

THERE ARE NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH ELON MUSK COMMUNICATES WITH VLADIMIAR PUTIN.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTING THE BILLIONAIRE HAS HAD REGULAR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT SINCE LATE 2022.

THE CONVERSATIONS REPORTEDLY COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING
PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES. THE JOURNAL’S REPORT WAS CONFIRMED BY U.S., EUROPEAN, AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS.
IT RAISES SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL SECURITY QUESTIONS GIVEN MUSK’S ROLE IN U.S. SPACE OPERATIONS AND HIS DEEPENING POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

ONE NOTEWORTHY EXCHANGE INVOLVED A REQUEST FROM PUTIN LAST YEAR, ASKING MUSK NOT TO ACTIVATE HIS STARLINK SATELLITE INTERNET SERVICE OVER TAIWAN AS A FAVOR TO CHINA’S PRESIDENT XI JINPING. MUSK’S RESPONSE REMAINS UNDISCLOSED, BUT HIS DEALINGS WITH RUSSIA HAVE BECOME PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE DUE TO HIS INFLUENCE IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY.

INITIALLY, MUSK’S STARLINK SERVICE PROVIDED UKRAINE WITH THOUSANDS OF INTERNET TERMINALS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ITS CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA. HOWEVER, BY LATE 2022, MUSK RESTRICTED STARLINK’S MILITARY USE IN UKRAINE, FOLLOWING UKRAINIAN REQUESTS TO SUPPORT A CRIMEA-BOUND DRONE OFFENSIVE. MUSK CITED FEARS OF ESCALATION, REPORTEDLY AFTER RECEIVING MESSAGES FROM RUSSIAN OFFICIALS THAT SUGGESTED POTENTIAL NUCLEAR RETALIATION.

MUSK HAS ALSO BECOME A PROMINENT SUPPORTER OF DONALD TRUMP’S 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, FURTHER UNDERSCORING HIS GROWING POLITICAL INFLUENCE. ALONG WITH HIS ENDORSEMENT, MUSK HAS PLEDGED MILLIONS MONTHLY TO A PRO-TRUMP SUPER PAC. TRUMP HAS STATED THAT HE INTENDS TO APPOINT MUSK TO LEAD A “GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMISSION” SHOULD HE WIN, POSITIONING MUSK AS BOTH AN ALLY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORTER.

MUSK’S INCREASING INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS HAS LED TO QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ALIGNMENT WITH U.S. INTERESTS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HIS ACCESS TO SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AND INFLUENCE OVER CRITICAL U.S. SPACE AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGIES.

MUSK HAS NOT PUBLICLY RESPONDED.

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