When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his presidential election victory, Tesla CEO and Trump supporter Elon Musk joined the call, according to media reports on Friday.
During the 25-minute call on Wednesday, the day after the election, Trump told Zelenskyy he would support Ukraine, without providing details, and Musk said he would continue supplying Starlink satellites, Axios reported, citing unidentified sources.
Musk owns SpaceX, which provides Starlink satellite communication services that are vital for Ukraine's defense effort, but his statements have sometimes angered Kyiv since Russia invaded its neighbor in 2022.
Zelenskyy was telling Trump how important the satellites had been for internet service during the war when Trump said Musk was with him and put the billionaire on the line, the Washington Post reported.
Trump and Musk were at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Palm Beach residence and club, when the call took place, according to the New York Times. Musk gave millions of dollars to support Trump's presidential campaign and made public appearances with him.
Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump campaign said it did not comment on private meetings.
Zelenskyy was among the first leaders to congratulate Trump, who has been critical of U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Zelenskyy said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday that his conversations with Trump should continue.
"We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," the Ukrainian president said.
© (Thomson Reuters 2024.
32 Comments
ok1517
I'd say this ain't none of Elon's business!
Catapulting himself already in the spotlights?
Guess all he wanted, and Donald presented to him on a golden plate!
By the way, Donald, how's he doing?
Have not heard from him since those election results were announced!
TaiwanIsNotChina
We don't need more idiots telling Free Ukraine to surrender.
Underworld
OMG Dumb and dumber are getting involved in stuff they know nothing about.
dagon
Say hello to Elon Musk, your new un-elected leader.
Gotta love some of the Trumpist euphoria, it is mask off time. Saying Musk's experience growing up in South Africa with a blood emerald mine legacy will give him good insight on race relations in a Trump admin.
dobre vam zajebava
ok1514
btw is Ukraine still prevailing?
Underworld
Dumb and dumber are getting involved in stuff they know nothing about.
it seems to me that your comment is VULGAR and IMPOLITE to others?
ok1517
@dobre,
completely off topic.
But to answer your repeated questions:
YES, more than 900 days already!
Ukraine prevails!
Besides "underworld's" comment is perfect.
Can't deny the facts - not vulgar and impolite at all!
Eat the left
Are you libs going to keep up a daily whine for the next 4 years? You lost. Accept it and get on with your lives off-line.
bass4funk
Well, things will change, so get used to it.
Un-elected??? Uhhh, nope.
https://x.com/mcoorah/status/1854435455627866178?s=46&t=YGWP_lcRZjddiWlx4QxURQ
He not only beat the Dem machine, he completely crushed and destroyed the Democrat party and set them back for at least a few election cycles. Not bad.
More insights than what the Dems and their racist social polices that helped push Trump over the finish line.
Underworld
bass4funk
We don't need more idiots telling Free Ukraine to surrender.
Yup. Idiocracy.
kurisupisu
The 47th president of the United States knows full well that Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Zelenskyy is begging for money but there are many ostentatious and moneyed Ukrainians benefiting from this war
Take a trip to Monaco and see the high end plated Ukrainian vehicles swanning around the streets and parked outside cafes and restaurants.
Some dude
Assuming that the result of this election means that it will be significantly harder for Ukraine to fight, and let's assume the worst outcome for a moment, i.e. Putin gets the outcome he wants (whatever that is) - what happens next? I can't believe anyone thinks he'll be happy stopping at Ukraine.
It's also clear, given that Trump's on record saying that he would encourage Russia to "do whatever the hell they want", that Trump couldn't care less if Putin starts another global conflict as long as the USA can keep out of it (or, if he sees the transactional benefits of joining in, he'll do so, but almost certainly to the detriment of whoever Russia is fighting against).
But the cheaper eggs and cowed women will make it worthwhile, no doubt.
WoodyLee
""We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," the Ukrainian president said.""
Shut It Down.
Mr Kipling
This is a nonsense argument. Putin's goal are the 4 regions of Ukraine with Russian culture, Russian speakers and built with mostly Russian wealth. Talk of going to Poland is silly, but you already know that.
WoodyLee
"We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," the Ukrainian president said.
Sound like Mr. Zelenskiy is softening his tone since he has NO OTHER choices.
Some dude
This is a nonsense argument. Putin's goal are the 4 regions of Ukraine with Russian culture, Russian speakers and built with mostly Russian wealth. Talk of going to Poland is silly, but you already know that.
I didn't mention Poland, but you did. That's what they call a "tell" in poker. I mean, if he stops at Ukraine that's still too far, but I wouldn't bet against him starting to cast an eye to other areas.
What I haven't yet cracked is why the Trump supporters are so keen for Putin to "take" Ukraine. It seems contradictory to vote for a candidate whose main running point (or at least one of them) was "America first", but also to be practically giddy over the fact that his election is going to make it more, not less, likely, that Putin will be emboldened to potentially cause considerable destabilisation in Europe.
I could hypothesise that it's because Trump clearly admires Putin and wants to set up a similar system in the US where there's no credible opposition at all, but it just seems odd that these self-styled "America first patriots" are pretty much openly cheering on a man who pretty much every prior president from Clinton onwards recognised as a significant threat to world stability.
Underworld
Mr Kipling
I can't believe anyone thinks he'll be happy stopping at Ukraine.
What? Talk about a nonsense argument. Ukrainian culture and built with mostly Ukrainian wealth.
bass4funk
Trump won, so if anyone deserves that title, I think it’s the party that lost.
quercetum
It puts the U.S. first because the US won’t be sending billions in aid and thereby telling Zelensky to take care of their own problems a la Afghanistan.
One thing is certain negotiations will begin and war will end. Trump also did not mention military support for Taiwan. Doesn’t want to involve the US. We always knew the US is just there for leverage and to get a deal out of it.
Taiwan is on its own and under the bus a second time.
‘If China goes into Taiwan, I'm going to tax China at 150% to 200%.’ To win the 2024 election by showing tough on China, Trump openly threatened Beijing. However, from the Chinese strategist’s perspective, this was the best possible outcome.November 8, 2024
plasticmonkey
You mean Elon Musk was elected? That's news to me. But I guess I'm not on Xwitter.
quercetum
President’s advisors have to be elected? Silly argument.
bass4funk
Not keen, just Europe should put more resources in to deal with the conflict not the U.S. By the way, how many European nations sent us aid and supplies after hurricane Helene?
Europe is already destabilized on many fronts not including the massive out of control migrant crisis
No, he admires his strength and nothing wrong to admire it.
What?
You can be America first and support Europe without sending billions of taxpayer money to Europe. There are millions of Europeans that support the U.S. without sending us money or aid.
wallace
bass4funk
What I haven't yet cracked is why the Trump supporters are so keen for Putin to "take" Ukraine.
The US is the world's number one economy and does not need foreign aid.
bass4funk
We’re not, but as I explained, Europe should do more, it’s their problem.
That is beside the point. I have more money than my kids, if they borrow $5 I want that money back, not because I need it, it’s because of the principle.
Blacklabel
This is great news.
Trump already keeping his promise to work to end the war as soon as possible.
Blacklabel
because we want to spend our money for our people. And voters agreed in a landslide.
i don’t want a million more innocent people dying over lines on a map.
when it’s illegal immigration the left doesn’t care about borders or maps.
Quo Primum
Good. Innovative, accomplished, and successful people like Musk should be involved in matters such as this.
ian
Seems zelensky is now sucking up to musk
Underworld
bass4funk
Yup. Idiocracy.
I was talking about foreign policy capability. None.
Underworld
JJE
LOLZ!
It's amateur hour with these two. They are out of their league.
bass4funk
The nation doesn't think so
The left had none.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Yeah, you will just kick off WW3 with your weakness and kill billions.
JJE
Good to see Elon is in on the phone call.
He won't be fooled by "victory plans" and "formulas".
Moreover, the business case is totally moribund.
Russia now controls the majority of the strategic minerals there (which are concentrated in the South-East).