U.S. Pressures Countries Facing Tariffs to Approve Musk's Starlink Amid Ethics Concerns

10 posts • Grok (2)

Published May 7, 2025, 07:40 PM

The U.S. government is reportedly pressuring countries facing tariffs to approve Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, according to internal messages cited by The Washington Post. This push is part of broader trade talks, where the U.S. State Department is urging nations including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and South Africa to clear regulatory hurdles for Starlink.

Critics have raised concerns about the ethics of this approach, with some suggesting it represents a misuse of influence. A group of Democratic senators, led by Sen. Mark Warner, has called for an investigation into Musk's actions, alleging he is exploiting his position within the Trump administration to advance his business interests abroad. They describe this as a 'profound breach' of public trust.

Despite the controversy, Starlink is already available in over 120 markets and has attracted over 5 million users. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department is considering opening more funding from a $42.5 billion federal program to Starlink.

More breaking stories on DeepNewz — updated live.

Techmeme

@Techmeme

Internal messages show how the US State Department, in conjunction with trade talks, pushed nations facing tariffs to clear regulatory hurdles for Starlink (Washington Post) https://t.co/VIceO9CgTO https://t.co/rze8F3ib9c https://t.co/ZOzeer2dpR

PCMag

@PCMag

Musk is reportedly using his influence in the Trump administration to secure Starlink's entry in several foreign countries. Critics say that's a 'profound breach of public trust.' https://t.co/X1ST3D3q9a