US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he intends to directly contact billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk regarding the deployment of Starlink satellite internet services to circumvent the Iranian government's ongoing blackout of online communications. The statement came amid escalating nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, where authorities have deliberately severed internet access to suppress information flow and limit coordination among demonstrators.
Trump praised Musk's capabilities, stating, "He's very good at that kind of thing, he's got a very good company," referring to SpaceX's Starlink network, which has previously provided connectivity in conflict zones and restricted regions, including areas within Iran during earlier unrest. The President's remarks followed questions from reporters about potential American intervention to ensure protesters and citizens retain access to uncensored global communication channels.
The announcement highlights the evolving dynamic between Trump and Musk, whose relationship has experienced notable fluctuations. After Musk played a significant role in supporting Trump's successful presidential campaign and later assisted with substantial federal government cost-cutting measures, the two experienced a public disagreement last year over Trump's key tax legislation. Recent developments indicate a reconciliation, evidenced by the pair sharing dinner together at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate earlier this month.
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The proposed collaboration arrives at a critical juncture in Iran's domestic crisis, where the communication shutdown has severely hampered the ability of protesters to share evidence of alleged state repression, organize gatherings, and inform the international community about developments on the ground. Starlink's satellite-based technology, which operates independently of terrestrial infrastructure, has been cited in previous instances as an effective tool for bypassing government-imposed restrictions.
Neither Elon Musk nor SpaceX has issued an immediate response to inquiries regarding the President's stated intention to engage on this matter. Should discussions proceed and result in Starlink activation within Iran, the move would represent a significant intersection of private sector technology, US foreign policy objectives, and the ongoing struggle for information freedom amid the country's most intense wave of anti-government demonstrations in recent years.
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