Elon Musk Has Been in Close Contact with Vladimir Putin: Report
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10/25/2024 01:05 PM
The Tesla CEO and Russian president have allegedly been having private conversations since 2022, with a report claiming that Putin even asked Musk for a favor involving international relations
ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP via Getty; Chesnot/Getty
Elon Musk; Vladimir PutinElon Musk has reportedly been in close contact with the Russian President Vladimir Putin over the past two years.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the X CEO, 53, and Putin, 72, have spoken about topics including "business and geopolitical tensions," along with personal topics — the former causing national security concerns.
One of Musk and Putin's alleged conversations involved the Russian leader asking Musk to refrain from activating the internet service over Taiwan on his Starlink satellite as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping in late 2023. Russia's alleged request was made as a way to benefit trade relationships with China, the report says.
Musk's Starlink satellite network is operated by SpaceX, which is the main rocket launcher for NASA and the Pentagon. This connection gives him access to classified government information, which an insider told The Wall Street Journal causes an issue since the U.S. relies on Musk's work.
Starlink previously shipped satellite internet terminals to Ukraine when Russia attacked in February 2022, and Musk showed support for the country by posting on X. However, his alliances appeared to shift in September 2023 when Musk believed that Ukraine's use of the Starlink terminals in Russia-occupied Crimea could result in a nuclear war, raising concerns within the Pentagon.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty
Donald Trump and Elon Musk in 2024Russian disinformation has infiltrated X this election season, allegedly pushing voters toward Republican candidate Donald Trump, who bragged about his relationship with Putin amid the Ukraine invasion.
The Kremlin reportedly used social media accounts and coded messages to quietly persuade voters away from supporting Ukraine and toward supporting Russia instead. That further complicates the Musk-Putin connections, as the presidential election is less than two weeks away.
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The billionaire, who is the richest person in the world, has played an increasingly partisan role in the 2024 election, becoming an outspoken mega-donor for Trump, 78, after saying on X in March 2024 that he wouldn't contribute to "either candidate for US President."
According to Reuters, Musk spent $44 million in the first two weeks of October, donating to his pro-Trump PAC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty
Elon Musk in 2024On Saturday, Oct. 19, Musk announced he was giving away $1 million a day to Trump supporters every day up until the election.
Those interested in winning need to sign a petition for Musk's "pro-Trump political action committee" and must be registered to vote in swing states Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.
Related: Trump Touts 'Close Relationship' with Putin amid Ukraine Invasion Even as He Denounces 'Genocide'
Questions of the legality surrounding Musk's giveaway have risen since his announcement, with the Justice Department issuing him a warning.
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