Overview

• State Department cables show Secretary Marco Rubio instructed diplomats to advocate for Starlink licensing in countries negotiating under Trump’s tariffs.
• Lesotho and several other nations, including India and Vietnam, approved Starlink deals to foster goodwill during trade discussions.
• Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, accuse the administration of leveraging trade policy to benefit Elon Musk, a major Trump donor, and his companies.
• The administration defends its actions as promoting U.S. technology leadership against Chinese telecom competitors, denying any ethical breaches.
• Calls for investigations intensify as details emerge of Starlink’s rapid global expansion and its role in trade negotiations.