Musk faces scrutiny over alleged Kremlin contact, voter giveaway controversy
SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk seen wearing MAGA hat as he participates in a town hall-style meeting to promote early and absentee voting at Ridley High School in Folsom, Pennsylvania, October 17, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, faces fresh controversy following reports from The Wall Street Journal suggesting he is in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin has denied these claims, stating that Musk’s sole interaction with Putin occurred before 2022 in a discussion centered on visionary technology.
This development comes just days after the U.S. Justice Department cautioned Musk’s America PAC that its $1 million voter giveaways might breach federal law. Federal prosecutors are concerned that offering money to registered voters could be illegal under statutes prohibiting financial incentives for voter participation.
Musk donates $118M for Trump
Musk, a major backer of Donald Trump since endorsing him in July, has reportedly donated $118 million to his pro-Trump political action committee.
His influence extends beyond finances; Musk has appeared at Trump rallies and hosted town halls, frequently promoting the former president and criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris on his platform X, formerly Twitter, where he has 202 million followers.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson urged an investigation into Musk’s potential interactions with Putin, citing security concerns due to Musk’s top secret clearance through SpaceX’s work with NASA and the Pentagon.
Claims ‘absolutely false’ says Kremlin
The report alleges Musk’s conversations with Putin touched on “business, personal topics, and geopolitical tensions.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, dismissed the allegations as “absolutely false.”
Meanwhile, Musk’s voter giveaways continue to draw criticism. Adav Noti, from the Campaign Legal Center, condemned the initiative as an abuse of wealth to influence election outcomes.
