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President-elect Donald Trump’s post-election call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday included tech billionaire and staunch Trump ally Elon Musk, according to multiple reports. Zelensky described the call as “excellent” in a post on X (the platform that Musk owns) shortly after it took place, but he did not reference Musk’s involvement.
Musk has been a key player both in Ukraine’s war against Russia and in the Trump campaign. The Starlink satellites operated by Musk’s company SpaceX have provided internet connectivity to Ukraine’s war effort. Yet Musk has also clashed with Zelensky over the former’s controversial peace proposal, which would see Russia retain control over Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014; Ukraine drop its bid to join NATO; and other measures that Zelensky opposes.
President-elect Donald Trump’s post-election call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday included tech billionaire and staunch Trump ally Elon Musk, according to multiple reports. Zelensky described the call as “excellent” in a post on X (the platform that Musk owns) shortly after it took place, but he did not reference Musk’s involvement.
Musk has been a key player both in Ukraine’s war against Russia and in the Trump campaign. The Starlink satellites operated by Musk’s company SpaceX have provided internet connectivity to Ukraine’s war effort. Yet Musk has also clashed with Zelensky over the former’s controversial peace proposal, which would see Russia retain control over Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014; Ukraine drop its bid to join NATO; and other measures that Zelensky opposes.
Musk’s donation of more $100 million to Trump’s election campaign and appearances with him at rallies appear to have gained him Trump’s ear and a seat at the table during the presidential transition period. (Trump has previously hinted at giving Musk a formal role in his administration.) The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO reportedly also joined Trump’s call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week.
A Trump campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Foreign Policy on Musk’s role in those calls and what was discussed.
This post is part of FP’s live coverage with global updates and analysis throughout the U.S. election. Follow along here.