NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has called for an investigation into a report suggesting that SpaceX founder Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. The report raises concerns about national security, as Musk's connections with NASA and the US military could potentially grant him access to sensitive government information and US intelligence.
The White House officials were reportedly unaware of the alleged contact between Musk and Putin, with the details of their discussions being described as a closely held secret within the government. The report mentioned a request from Putin to Musk not to activate his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Both Musk and the Kremlin have provided differing accounts of their interactions, with Musk not responding to requests for comment and the Kremlin stating that the two leaders have only had one telephone call discussing space and technology.
Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and owner of X, has been a significant financial figure in the recent presidential election. He has made substantial donations to a super PAC supporting former President Trump and has publicly endorsed Trump, even appearing with him on the campaign trail.
In addition to his political involvement, Musk has faced scrutiny for offering daily sweepstakes for swing-state voters, with the US Justice Department warning that the payments may be illegal. Despite this warning, Musk's super PAC awarded two $1 million prizes to registered voters in Michigan and Wisconsin.
