NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has called for an investigation into a Wall Street Journal report claiming that SpaceX founder Elon Musk has maintained “regular contact” with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. The report suggests Musk and Putin have discussed a range of topics, including personal matters, business, and geopolitical tensions, raising concerns about national security, especially given SpaceX’s connections with NASA and the U.S. military, which could provide Musk access to sensitive information.
Nelson expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the report but emphasized the need for an inquiry. “If the story is true that there have been multiple conversations between Elon Musk and the president of Russia, then I think that would be concerning, particularly for NASA, for the Department of Defense, for some of the intelligence agencies,” he stated in an interview.
While some U.S. officials have expressed counterintelligence concerns regarding Musk’s interactions with foreign adversaries like Russia, the intelligence community is hesitant to investigate further due to Musk being an American citizen, according to a source familiar with the matter. Several White House officials indicated they were unaware of any communications between Musk and Putin, with the Journal reporting that knowledge of these discussions appears limited within the government. The conversations were confirmed by various current and former officials from the U.S., Europe, and Russia.
One notable instance cited in the report involved a request from Putin for Musk not to activate his Starlink satellite service over Taiwan “as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.” Musk did not respond to the Journal’s inquiries.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, acknowledged the reporting but stated that the White House is “not in a position to corroborate” the claims, deferring further questions to Musk. A Pentagon spokesperson also refrained from commenting on Musk’s security clearance or related matters.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Musk and Putin had only one phone call, which involved discussions on “space as well as current and future technologies.”
Musk’s Role in the Ukraine Conflict
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Musk’s support for Ukraine has become more complex. While SpaceX’s provision of Starlink services has been critical for Ukraine’s military communications, Musk’s public statements have increasingly echoed those of Donald Trump, who has advocated for a quick negotiation to end the war. Starlink has proven essential for Ukraine, with experts noting that the military relies heavily on its capabilities.
After initially supporting Ukraine, SpaceX requested that the Pentagon cover the substantial costs of maintaining Starlink in the country. Musk later retracted this funding request on Twitter. Around the same time, he proposed a controversial “Ukraine-Russia Peace” plan that suggested redoing elections in territories recently annexed by Russia under UN supervision. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Musk’s stance, Musk asserted his continued support for Ukraine, expressing concerns about potential escalations.
SpaceX had previously limited Starlink access to areas under Ukrainian control, restricting advances that relied on its communication capabilities. However, the service was later expanded to cover the entire country. Earlier this year, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence claimed that Russian forces in occupied territories had confirmed the use of Starlink communications, reportedly obtained from third parties. Musk’s company has stated that it does not engage in business with the Russian government or military.
Revelations in a biography by Walter Isaacson revealed Musk’s hesitance to activate Starlink near the Crimean coast, fearing a nuclear response from Russia if Ukraine attacked. This decision left Ukrainian officials pleading with Musk to restore the service.
In October 2022, Musk denied claims that he had discussed a peace plan with Putin. Meanwhile, Musk, who also leads Tesla and owns X, has become a significant financial player in the upcoming presidential election, contributing nearly $44 million to a super PAC aimed at supporting Trump, bringing his total donations to nearly $119 million. He recently campaigned alongside Trump in Pennsylvania and held town halls encouraging voter support for the former president.
In recent days, Musk has also announced a $1 million daily sweepstakes for swing-state voters, drawing scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department. Despite warnings that the payments might be illegal, Musk’s super PAC awarded two $1 million prizes to voters in Michigan and Wisconsin.
