Leaked Memos Show How Trump’s Tariff Trade War Benefited SpaceX’s Starlink

Leaked State Department memos obtained by the Washington Post reveal that SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is benefiting directly from the tariff trade war initiated during the Trump administration.

The memos suggest that the U.S. government is urging other countries to adopt Starlink. Some nations believe that doing so may improve their trade and tariff negotiations with the U.S. A memo concerning Lesotho—a small nation in Africa facing a 50% tariff—specifically noted that its new 10-year agreement with Starlink could aid in these discussions, as reported by the Post.

Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, is regarded as one of the closest advisors to the Trump administration. A White House spokesperson told the Post that there was no conflict of interest. The State Department described the effort to secure contracts for an American satellite company as “patriotic,” especially amid rising competition from China. SpaceX has yet to respond to our request for comment.