Reich Urges Democrats to Lay Groundwork for Nationalizing SpaceX
The former labor secretary said 75% of Elon Musk's wealth depends on taxpayers, an assertion he did not document, and Musk replied on X.
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Robert Reich, the former labor secretary under President Bill Clinton, called on Democrats to investigate Elon Musk and begin preparing for a federal takeover of SpaceX and its satellite internet unit, Starlink, in an Oct. 24 episode of his podcast, "The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich," Fox Business reported.
Reich said Democrats should move beyond oversight hearings and start "laying the groundwork for nationalizing Starlink and SpaceX" if the party wins the White House, arguing the companies should be publicly owned. He also said 75% of Musk's wealth rests on taxpayers through purchases of Starlink systems for the Department of Defense. He did not provide evidence for that figure, according to Fox Business. SpaceX has won billions of dollars in federal contracts, including with NASA and the Pentagon.
Musk responded on X on Oct. 25 to a clip of the remarks posted by commentator Collin Rugg, writing: "Stealing companies is a serious crime. Prison for Reich."
Reich predicted Musk would become a focus of congressional scrutiny if Democrats take the House and possibly the Senate in the November 2026 midterm elections, and said Musk would use his following on X as a counterweight.
This story was first reported by Fox Business.
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