Democratic senators accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of using his position as a special government employee to score deals for his satellite internet service Starlink in countries seeking relief from President Trump’s tariffs.
Thirteen Democrats, led by Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, pressed Mr. Trump in a letter Friday to probe whether Mr. Musk, who helms the Department of Government Efficiency, is in it for personal gain.
The Washington Times reached out to the White House and SpaceX, the parent of Starlink, for comment.
Mr. Musk has maintained his roles as CEO of SpaceX and Tesla while working for the president and is soon expected to leave DOGE.
The lawmakers, citing a recent opinion piece from The Washington Post and other reporting, alleged that during his time in Washington, Mr. Musk misused his position to get breakthroughs for deals mired in regulatory holdups in India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Lesotho and Bangladesh.
They urged the president to make the findings public.
“It is disturbing that the Senate, when exercising its constitutional responsibilities to regulate foreign commerce, levy tariffs, and consider trade negotiations and treaties, has to consider the possibility of self-dealing by senior officials,” they said.
“The fear that officials are misusing their authority for self-enrichment, be it through government contracting or through corrupt interactions with foreign governments, is not one that Americans should have to countenance,” the lawmakers continued. “Brazen corruption of that sort is seen in despotic regimes, not the United States of America.”
A recent Starlink deal in Bangladesh was a focal point for the lawmakers. In February, Mr. Musk spoke with Mohammad Yunus, the leader of Bangladesh’s interim government, which he characterized as a “great meeting.”
“We agreed to work together,” Mr. Yunus said on X at the time. “Hoping to launch Starlink in Bangladesh soon together with him.”
The country sent a letter to the Trump administration outlining steps it would take in exchange for a pause in tariffs. Soon after, Bangladesh announced that it greenlit the process to let Starlink get a license to operate in the country.
The lawmakers also warned that Mr. Musk’s native South Africa, where he has heavily criticized its laws and policies, was reportedly watching the deal with Bangladesh.
“We condemn in the strongest terms allowing Musk any influence on U.S. trade posture towards South Africa to coerce that country to cater to Musk’s personal interests,” they said.
