NASA's chief has called for an investigation into recent allegations that Elon Musk held secret discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin while working under U.S. intelligence contracts.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Musk has been in regular contact with Putin since 2022, with conversations allegedly verified by multiple officials from the U.S., Europe, and Russia.
Speaking at a conference in Washington hosted by media outlet Semafor, NASA’s Bill Nelson said that verifying the claims is crucial, given their potential implications for U.S. national security.
“I don’t know that that story is true. I think it should be investigated,” Nelson said.
“If the story’s 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, the Department of Defense, for some of the intelligence agencies.”
Musk’s company SpaceX, which provides satellite and launch services, has become essential for NASA’s ongoing missions and future plans, as well as for other U.S. intelligence and military projects. The allegations raise questions about the potential influence of Musk’s reported international contacts on U.S. interests, especially in the space and defense sectors where SpaceX operates.
Musk, who recently increased his involvement in former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, has not publicly addressed the Wall Street Journal’s report.
Speaking at a conference in Washington hosted by media outlet Semafor, NASA’s Bill Nelson said that verifying the claims is crucial, given their potential implications for U.S. national security.
“I don’t know that that story is true. I think it should be investigated,” Nelson said.
“If the story’s 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, the Department of Defense, for some of the intelligence agencies.”
The WSJ report further stated that Musk was asked to avoid expanding his Starlink satellite internet coverage to Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The reported request aligns with Musk’s business interests in China, which is the second-largest market for his electric vehicle company, Tesla, according to CNN.Asked about the WSJ report on Elon Musk's conversations with Putin, @SenBillNelson tells @burgessev:
— Semafor (@semafor) October 25, 2024
"[SpaceX] have been phenomenally successful ... I don't know that that story is true. I think it should be investigated. If the story is true ... that would be concerning." pic.twitter.com/5Mlo2AEDNx
Musk’s company SpaceX, which provides satellite and launch services, has become essential for NASA’s ongoing missions and future plans, as well as for other U.S. intelligence and military projects. The allegations raise questions about the potential influence of Musk’s reported international contacts on U.S. interests, especially in the space and defense sectors where SpaceX operates.
Musk, who recently increased his involvement in former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, has not publicly addressed the Wall Street Journal’s report.
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