According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, President Trump contacted Elon Musk to request the easing of restrictions on the military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink system, which Ukraine relies on amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Following this conversation, officials noted that the Starshield system was functioning more normally.
The controversy began when Musk, who has been critical of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, imposed a slowdown on Starlink, prompting bipartisan criticism from U.S. lawmakers. Senator John Cornyn expressed skepticism that Musk would have made this decision without some level of approval from the White House.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has initiated an inquiry into the matter, questioning the implications of limiting access to technology that the U.S. government has heavily invested in for Ukraine's defense.
The situation raises significant concerns about the governance of critical technologies and their impact on international relations, especially as Trump has also been advocating for easing sanctions on Russia. The White House and Musk have not yet commented on these developments