Federal agencies kept tabs on Elon Musk's foreign visitors
3 Min Read
The tracking was done over concerns about potential influence, given the tech titan's access to sensitive US government projects.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington, March 9, 2020. (AP)
Federal authorities reportedly monitored a number of foreign nationals who visited Elon Musk at his residences in the United States, amid mounting concerns that some individuals may have been attempting to influence the tech billionaire.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited sources familiar with the investigation, agencies including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted surveillance on meetings that occurred in 2022 and 2023.
The reported surveillance primarily targeted individuals from Eastern Europe and other regions who met with Musk. Authorities were concerned that these individuals might be seeking to exert influence over him, given his significant reach and strategic importance.
According to the Journal, the FBI was briefed on the matter, though the investigation did not result in any criminal charges. The identities and nationalities of those monitored were not disclosed.
Musk’s government ties raise red flags
Musk’s extensive connections to high-level government operations heightened the concern. The Journal highlighted that his five companies, particularly SpaceX, hold numerous sensitive contracts with the federal government.
Since 2008, these contracts have amounted to nearly $21 billion in government support, much of which was awarded to SpaceX for satellite launches on behalf of the Department of Defense, including classified missions for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Stricter internal procedures enforced
The revelations follow Musk’s public split from Washington, D.C., and a visible rift with President Donald Trump. Musk had played a notable role in Trump’s re-election campaign, even launching a super PAC to support the effort. However, his ties to foreign individuals drew concern within the organization. According to the Journal, the America PAC responded by enforcing stricter internal procedures to limit contact with foreign nationals.
The Journal previously reported that Musk had been in occasional contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin beginning in 2022. Sources familiar with the matter claimed the two had spoken by phone about "business and geopolitical matters."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that one call had taken place, during which they discussed “space as well as current and future technologies” but denied that regular communications occurred.
In response to these allegations, a SpaceX spokesperson told The Independent that the Journal’s reporting was “misleading” and “unsubstantiated".
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