‘Textbook Case of Corruption’: Democratic Senators Call for Ethics Investigation Into Starlink’s Recent Trade Deals

The Democratic Senators raised concerns about whether the Trump administration is using trade negotiations to benefit Elon Musk personally or financially, questioning if regulatory approvals for Starlink bypassed tariffs while public interest was compromised. They noted Starlink's aggressive goal of adding a million customers annually but criticized its struggles in emerging markets like Bangladesh and Lesotho. Internal documents suggest U.S. officials may have circumvented tariffs despite seeking approvals, prompting a request for an investigation into potential quid-pro-quo exchanges or ethics violations.