WASHINGTON − On Tuesday, tech mogul Elon Musk participated in the initial phone conversation between President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking a significant moment following Trump’s election, as reported by various media outlets. This raises the question of Musk’s potential influence in the forthcoming administration.

A representative for Zelenskyy described the conversation as fruitful, based on statements made by both Trump and Musk, although no details were disclosed, according to Axios, which first disclosed Musk’s involvement on Friday.

Zelenskyy shared on X that his discussion with Trump was “excellent” and that he congratulated Trump on his decisive election victory. Musk’s presence in the call was not mentioned.

Musk’s involvement in the call was coincidental; he entered the room just as Trump and Zelenskyy were speaking, and Trump handed him the phone, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Since Russia’s invasion in 2022 disrupted much of Ukraine’s mobile phone infrastructure, the country relies heavily on Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service. Zelenskyy indicated he used Starlink during his call with Trump, and Musk responded that he would provide additional Starlink units to Ukraine, as reported by the Journal.

Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comments. Spokespeople for Trump and Zelenskyy also did not respond right away to similar inquiries.

Trump Calls Musk ‘A Star’

It is highly unusual for a private individual like Musk—or any external figure—to be involved in phone calls between heads of state, especially newly elected leaders.

However, Trump has indicated that Musk will play a significant role in his administration. “A star is born,” Trump remarked in his victory speech, directly referencing Musk, who donated over $100 million to support Trump’s campaign.

This relationship could pose conflicts of interest, as Musk’s companies are overseen by various federal agencies, having received approximately $15.4 billion in government contracts in the past decade, according to Open Secrets.

For example, SpaceX is essential to the U.S. space initiatives and also plays a crucial role in Musk’s ambitions to transport humans to Mars, aligning with his vision of making “life multiplanetary.”

Experts suggest that Musk’s role in the Trump-Zelenskyy call hints at the significant influence he may have in the new administration, especially considering his close ties to Trump and his backing of the campaign.

Susan Glasser, a former Moscow correspondent and co-author of “Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin’s Russia and the End of Revolution,” noted that Musk’s involvement signals the considerable weight he may carry in the Trump administration.

“Wow,” Glasser remarked on X. “A glimpse of what happens when the world’s richest man also owns a significant stake in the U.S. presidency.”

Zelenskyy Feels ‘Somewhat Reassured’ After the Call

Axios reported that the call lasted around 25 minutes and stated that Zelenskyy felt “somewhat reassured” by the conversation. Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed he would work to resolve Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine if he were elected—indicating he might push to reduce or even cut aid to the struggling Kyiv government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Trump on his election victory and reportedly indicated he would answer if Trump reached out.

Musk’s involvement in the call adds a layer of political complexity for various reasons.

For one, Musk oversees billions in sensitive contracts with U.S. military and intelligence agencies, some of which are tied to the conflict in Ukraine. He likely holds a top-secret security clearance for such dealings, as he has alleged.

However, under Musk’s leadership, SpaceX has taken unpredictable stances on matters that could influence geopolitical situations, raising concerns about national security regarding whether a major defense contractor could be swayed by its leader’s whims, according to Douglas Yeung, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND. He expressed his thoughts in a recent opinion piece for YSL News.

Yeung noted that while SpaceX initially offered Starlink communications to Ukrainian forces, it later demanded the Pentagon cover the expenses and hinted that re-establishing access could escalate the situation into a global conflict.

Musk’s Alleged Links to Vladimir Putin Raise Alarm

The situation becomes even more complicated as the Wall Street Journal reported on October 25 that Musk has maintained regular communication with Putin since late 2022.

These discussions, confirmed by various U.S., European, and Russian officials, include personal matters as well as issues related to business and geopolitical tensions. Musk has not responded to requests for confirmation regarding these reports.

Recent discussions concerning U.S. intelligence have emerged, revealing that Putin has been utilizing his cyber forces to propagate misinformation aimed at supporting Trump’s election campaign. This includes the creation and sharing of false videos targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

A significant amount of this misleading content was spread on X, a platform purchased by Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, for $44 billion in 2022. During this same period, Musk was actively promoting pro-Trump messages and disseminating false information about the election while participating in Trump’s campaign events.

The revelation of Musk’s connections with Putin has raised alarms among some U.S. lawmakers and security officials, such as Rep. Jim Himes from Connecticut, who leads the House Intelligence Committee’s Democratic members.

“My role involves overseeing the intelligence community and the counter-intelligence segment of the FBI, so absolutely, I will inquire what they know and if this is a matter of concern,” Himes stated in an interview with YSL News prior to Trump’s election.

Himes mentioned that he intends to initiate staff inquiries and seek briefings from senior U.S. intelligence officials regarding Musk’s engagement with Putin and its implications for his various U.S. national security contracts.

“Beyond any discussions regarding his security clearance, policymakers might need to consider whether he should have a deeper role in our national security framework,” said Himes, reflecting on Musk’s increasing government contracts.

‘The Musk-Putin relationship warrants investigation,’ says NASA chief

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, a former U.S. senator, also shares concerns regarding Musk’s alleged dialogues with Putin.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, these discussions included a request from Putin for Musk to refrain from activating his Starlink satellite internet over Taiwan as a courtesy to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I cannot confirm whether that story is accurate, but I believe it should be thoroughly investigated,” Nelson remarked recently at a Semafor conference in Washington, D.C. “If there have indeed been multiple conversations between Elon Musk and the Russian president, it raises serious concerns, especially for NASA, the Department of Defense, and various intelligence agencies.”

On Friday, a representative for Nelson stated that he had no additional comments to make.