US pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk's Starlink, Washington Post reports

c/world · u/MicroWave@lemmy.world · 224 points

United States has pushed some nations facing tariffs imposed by Donald Trump to approve Elon Musk's Starlink, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing State Department cables.

The cables show how U.S. embassies and the department pushed countries to clear hurdles for satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name, the Post reported.

The documents do not show that the Trump administration has demanded favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs, the newspaper reported. But they indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musk's satellite firm, it reported.

Comments

u/McBB@lemmy.world · 7 points

Just Ukraine, no need for "the"

u/homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 16 points

Reminds me of warning my friends not to give google and facebook all their personal information.

(Spoiler alert: they did)

u/Binky@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 points

Yeah. I know. I’m just venting really. Remembering the good old days when congress would do their jobs.

u/hOrni@lemmy.world · 29 points

These people control the "arresting and banning' people so they can do what they want. That's kinda what dictatorship is all about.

u/yuknowhokat@lemmy.world · 5 points

Not just most obvious but it's blatant. Expecting receipt of something of value in return for government action is the actual definition of corruption

u/homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 1 points

It's up to you Binky. Make it good.

u/prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 29 points

Capitalism is the cancer, and Musk is the fetid, gangrenous tumor

u/flandish@lemmy.world · 28 points

*Capitalism

but yeah both are true at the same time for sure.

u/ME5SENGER_24@lemmy.world · 93 points

Musk is a cancer on the world

u/Binky@lemmy.sdf.org · 53 points

Government corruption at its most obvious…. Shouldn’t these people be arrested and banned from government by now?

u/Fourest@sh.itjust.works · 30 points

Hope these countries understand anytime there is any type of dispute with the US either directly or indirectly there will be a threat of turning off the internet. Mask proved he will do this with Ukraine.

u/Goodmorningsunshine@lemmy.world · 30 points

Don't do it. Don't give this Nazi scum technological control over your countries.

u/shawn1122@lemm.ee · 26 points

A public office should not be promoting a private enterprise. That's not what tax dollars are for. Musk can pay for marketing and advertising like the rest of his competitors do.

Hopefully other nations see this cronyism and tell the US administration to stuff it.

u/NotAGamer@lemmy.org · 8 points

Canada's answer should be no.

u/C1pher@lemmy.world · 1 points

They are out of their fucking minds... I hope nobody agrees to this grift.