Elon Musk joined Trump's call with Zelenskyy: Sources
Posted on 11/09/2024
Billionaire Elon Musk joined President-elect Donald Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the call told ABC News.
The phone call began with Zelenskyy congratulating Trump on his election victory, Trump then handed the phone to Musk and Zelenskyy thanked Musk, remarking that the call was possible because of his Starlink internet service, sources told ABC News.
Trump then remarked that Starlink was helpful in providing internet for recent hurricane victims, the sources said.
Musk was at Mar-a-Lago with Trump on election night as well as the day after, as previously reported by ABC News. Musk's involvement in the call further highlights his influence in the upcoming administration.
Musk was present for at least one other phone call with a foreign leader -- Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- who spoke to the president-elect Wednesday while he was dining with Musk at his Mar-a-Lago club, the sources said. It's not clear if Musk participated in the call.
Trump hasn't left Mar-a-Lago grounds since returning from the convention center in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Musk, the world's richest person, had a profound impact on Trump's campaign including a multi-billion dollar door-knocking operation, a social media megaphone and a $1 million sweepstakes for battleground voters.
Zelenskyy wrote on social media that he had an "excellent" call with Trump, but made no mention of Musk.
"I had an excellent call with President Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory — his tremendous campaign made this result possible," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The call happened as Zelenskyy seeks to shore up long-term American military and financial support in its war with Russia.
On the campaign trail, Trump has often boasted that he would be able to stop the war in Ukraine, though he has yet to provide specifics as to how, often showing a willingness to work with both sides.
As of now, Musk is expected to return to Mar-a-Lago next week, but plans remain in flux, per sources familiar with the plans.
The phone call began with Zelenskyy congratulating Trump on his election victory, Trump then handed the phone to Musk and Zelenskyy thanked Musk, remarking that the call was possible because of his Starlink internet service, sources told ABC News.
Trump then remarked that Starlink was helpful in providing internet for recent hurricane victims, the sources said.
Musk was at Mar-a-Lago with Trump on election night as well as the day after, as previously reported by ABC News. Musk's involvement in the call further highlights his influence in the upcoming administration.
Musk was present for at least one other phone call with a foreign leader -- Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- who spoke to the president-elect Wednesday while he was dining with Musk at his Mar-a-Lago club, the sources said. It's not clear if Musk participated in the call.
Trump hasn't left Mar-a-Lago grounds since returning from the convention center in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Musk, the world's richest person, had a profound impact on Trump's campaign including a multi-billion dollar door-knocking operation, a social media megaphone and a $1 million sweepstakes for battleground voters.
Zelenskyy wrote on social media that he had an "excellent" call with Trump, but made no mention of Musk.
"I had an excellent call with President Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory — his tremendous campaign made this result possible," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The call happened as Zelenskyy seeks to shore up long-term American military and financial support in its war with Russia.
On the campaign trail, Trump has often boasted that he would be able to stop the war in Ukraine, though he has yet to provide specifics as to how, often showing a willingness to work with both sides.
As of now, Musk is expected to return to Mar-a-Lago next week, but plans remain in flux, per sources familiar with the plans.
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