There is now evidence that sure makes it look like there are issues with Musk, Space X, American safety, and classified intelligence, issues that are almost inherent to Musk and Space X’s business – but going the wrong way. There is a way to minimize the potential conflicts with respect to American classified intelligence to the maximum extent possible but it now looks like Space X and Musk – personally, are unwilling to take even those minimum steps to at least appear as if he is trying to deal with Putin and other countries without threatening American interests.
The obvious and easiest way for Musk to operate in good faith is to comply with reporting requirements – which includes putting forth some details and facts about his actions and plans. Obviously, those facts about the relationship and discussions with Russia is where the rubber meets the road (without an analysis on goals or long-term impact on American intelligence). He can’t even do that according to reporting by The New York Times.
Elon Musk and his rocket company, SpaceX, have repeatedly failed to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting state secrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings with a foreign leaders, according to people with knowledge of the company and internal documents.
Concerns about the reporting practices — and particularly about Mr. Musk, who is Space X’s chief executive — have triggered at least three federal reviews, eight people with knowledge of the efforts said.
Russia is specifically named later in the article, citing Musk’s talks with Putin. I have gone out of my way to not jump the gun on accusing Musk of anything. It is important to emphasize that he could inadvertently find himself in a position where he is passing along top secret stuff – totally unknowingly. It seems obvious that he could – on Space X’s behalf, be negotiating a contract with the Russian state, the very details of which somehow pass along American positions with respect to satellite capability, distribution, and intelligence.
It is for that very reason that a good American would ask someone familiar with classified material and knowing how such information could get in another nation’s hands to both be aware of the situation and perhaps participate. If you really wanted to be sure that American interests are protected, you would go out of your way to get help. It would be a sign of strength to say “I want someone involved to help in doing this.” But… No.
Under security clearance rules, Mr. Musk must report information about his private life and foreign travel, among other details, to the Defense Department as part of a process known as “continuous vetting.” That allows the government to evaluate whether someone with a high-level security clearance should continue handling sensitive information.
And that is where Musk has failed. He has not reported those details. He probably wouldn’t be in a position to have to get into details if he had help and asked for guidance ahead of time. He won’t do that either.
To make it even worse, American allies see the risk. Compromising American secrets doesn’t just hurt the U.S. The article cites Israel as having serious concerns about Musk’s relationship with Putin and the talks that have become public. One has to wonder whether he is taking those risks with the belief that a Trump administration will look the other way without regard to what he’s doing.
I have said over and over that a fortune of $300 billion makes one a small nation (Not even that small) onto oneself and with that comes concurrent responsibilities to not use that power to hurt the very nation that has largely provided him the opportunity to earn that slice of its economy. Few people on earth have more reason to be loyal to the U.S., and yet Musk seems to be quite cavalier about his relationship with the country whose banks likely hold his fortune and is acting as though he, alone – will decide what is best for Musk/Space X – first, and then maybe a nod to American interests. Or maybe not.
It shouldn’t be that way, and – again, it looks like he feels free knowing that his favored president will cover him. It may or may not be true. It’s possible that Trump might have big issues with Musk working against U.S. interests if it happens behind Trump’s back or looks like he’s using Trump. It is possible.
What is impossible now is any denial that he’s doing all he can to protect U.S. and allied secrets, or even the appearance of doing it wrong. That’s a problem. We can only hope it is addressed. The sooner the better. Don’t hold your breath.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and on X at @JasonMiciak and now on Bluesky – follow along.
Howard Hughes used to worry about what the State Department and the FBI and senior government officials used to think of him in case it affected his fortune – in his day, his fortune was proportional to Musk.
Maybe the muskrat should start developing the same worries. He’s NOT that rich, he’s worth about four times as much as Monaco, if you added up all of that tiny country’s assets, if that.
He’s a long way from, say, Slovakia, or New Zealand, or Thailand, or Vietnam, or even Venezuela, in terms of monetary value. Not to be confused with the GDP of those countries, the actual net worth is far more. Conversely Mr Musk’s yearly earnings are far lower than his asset backing in the same way.
He might think he’s really rich but he made his money fast, he could lose it just as quickly.
As did Mr Hughes, who also relied on a fortune puffed up with government contracts.