Did Trump know Musk was about to restrict Ukraine’s military Starlink service? WSJ reports they discussed the decision afterward. Some sources say they also spoke beforehand.

On October 14, Ukrainian forces reported disruptions to their Starlink satellite communications terminals, specifically the military version, Starshield. The restrictions caused "panic in Kyiv" and "confusion inside the Trump administration," according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. SpaceX founder Elon Musk ordered the restrictions, which led SpaceX representatives to contact their White House counterparts to coordinate a joint statement claiming they had agreed on the actions taken.

Musk and Trump reportedly discussed the decision by phone shortly after it became public, with Musk having also spoken with several senior administration officials, including Trump, before imposing the restrictions. However, Trump claimed he had not ordered the restrictions and did not know who was responsible. The restrictions disrupted Ukrainian military missions, and two days after the disruption, Trump stated he had not ordered the restrictions and was unaware of who could have done so. SpaceX and the Trump administration have denied responsibility for the decision.