Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and
Sources confirmed the news to both The New York Times and Axios, with one person telling the Times that Trump handed the phone to Musk during the call.
A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign did not immediately return requests for comment on the reports.
It is unclear whether the three men discussed the possibility of Trump changing U.S. policy toward Ukraine in the war with Russia, but a source told Axios that the call “did not leave Zelensky with a sense of despair.”
Musk, who has increasingly appeared at Trump’s side in the final weeks of his campaign, reportedly said on the call that he would continue to support Ukraine with his Starlink satellites, which would allow communications in places where Russian attacks have hit the internet and damaged communications networks.
But in the past, Musk has also mocked Zelensky’s requests for help from the US, sometimes refusing to activate Starlink in certain areas.
Trump has also expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking with him several times after leaving the White House four years ago, according to reports he declined to address.
Musk, who has injected more than $130 million into Trump’s campaign, is expected to play a role in his second administration. Trump spoke about him at length during his victory speech this week, calling him a “super genius,” and Musk said during a speech last month that under President Trump he would vet federal agencies and make at least $2 trillion in revenue. cuts in government spending.
