US agencies tracked foreign nationals visiting Elon Musk amid influence concerns

The effort, which predated Trump’s return to office earlier this year, underscores persistent unease about the number of foreign nationals in Musk’s circle

Several US government agencies tracked foreign nationals entering and exiting properties owned by Elon Musk in 2022 and 2023, amid growing concerns about potential foreign influence on the billionaire entrepreneur, according to people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The investigation, involving the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department, focused on visitors from Eastern Europe and other regions who might have been seeking to sway Musk, then one of President Trump’s closest advisers. Though the probe didn’t lead to charges and its current status remains unclear, officials at multiple agencies, including the FBI, were briefed on its progress.

The effort, which predated Trump’s return to office earlier this year, underscores persistent unease about the number of foreign nationals in Musk’s circle. The founder of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk oversees several companies with sensitive government contracts and has enjoyed extraordinary access to top US officials.

Foreign ties spark growing alarm in Washington

Musk’s ties to foreign nationals have drawn heightened scrutiny under the current Trump administration, which has prioritized combating foreign influence. In recent weeks, Trump imposed new travel bans on citizens from more than a dozen countries and suspended Harvard from the student-visa program.

Musk declined to comment on the matter. A White House spokeswoman referred questions to DHS and the FBI; White House officials said they were unaware of any prior investigation. The FBI also declined to comment.

Since Trump’s return to the White House in January—buoyed in part by more than $250 million in campaign support from Musk’s super PAC—Musk briefly served as a special government employee overseeing budget cuts. But that alliance collapsed spectacularly last week after a bitter public spat between the two men.

Concerns within Musk’s own political network

Even before the falling out, tensions were mounting inside Musk’s political operation over his international contacts. Staffers at Musk’s super PAC, America PAC, implemented strict vetting procedures to block foreign nationals from participating in campaign efforts, according to two people familiar with the group. Some campaign staffers privately expressed unease about the presence of foreign guests at Musk’s events and meetings.

Musk’s personal diplomacy has also raised eyebrows. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Musk had maintained regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. SpaceX attorneys reportedly advised Musk against seeking a higher-level security clearance to avoid scrutiny of his foreign relationships.

Sensitive government roles complicate Musk’s position

As chief executive of SpaceX, Musk holds a top-secret security clearance, granting him access to certain classified national-security information. SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002, has long partnered with US defence and intelligence agencies.

Yet the billionaire’s global business ties and interactions with foreign leaders increasingly pose complications for his role in sensitive government projects. According to sources, Musk’s contact with foreign nationals was one factor that led SpaceX’s lawyers to caution against any moves that could risk his current clearance.

While the investigation into foreign visitors to Musk’s properties appears to have stalled, the issue remains a flashpoint in Washington, where questions about Musk’s global dealings and their potential security implications are unlikely to fade.