Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis slammed some Ukrainian officials that have been publicly hostile toward tech billionaire Elon Musk in recent weeks, saying that they should be thankful for Musk’s contributions to their country and to not take it for granted.
The news comes as SpaceX, a company that Musk founded and where he serves as CEO, recently told the Pentagon that it needed to be compensated for tens of millions of dollars per month to continue operating Starlink satellites over Ukraine, which provide the country’s military the ability to communicate in their war against the Russians. Musk later reversed course after public backlash and said that he would continue funding Ukraine despite losing money.
“Elon Musk positioned his satellites over Ukraine and gave them these things,” DeSantis said at a press conference on Monday. “So, they’ve actually been using his devices to be able to defend their country, and I guess some of the people in the, in the government were attacking Musk.”
“And I’m just thinking to myself, ‘like he’s doing this for free, don’t bite the hand that feeds you!’ Good lord,” DeSantis continued. “I mean, have a little bit —, so, but I think there was like kind of that kerfuffle … but he has provided that for them for free.”
“And if you think about it in a country that big, given what’s going on, I mean, that’s tens of millions of dollars that he’s effectively donated,” DeSantis added.
WATCH:
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) admonishes Ukrainian officials for vocally rejecting Elon Musk — who’s been funding satellites to help Ukraine’s military — for proposing that Ukraine make significant territorial concessions to Russia:
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Good lord!” pic.twitter.com/w9PiMfESYS
— The Recount (@therecount) October 17, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
RON DESANTIS, FLORIDA GOVERNOR (R): Well, I don’t think he’s had a hiccup. I mean, I think what’s happened, so I think most of you know, when the Russia-Ukraine, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Elon Musk positioned his satellites over Ukraine and gave them these things. So, they’ve actually been using his devices to be able to defend their country and I guess some of the people in the in the government were attacking Musk. And I’m just thinking to myself, like he’s doing this for free, don’t bite the hand that feeds you! Good lord. I mean, have a little bit–, so, but I think there was like kind of that kerfuffle, but I think he’s, I think he, but he has provided that for them for free. And if you think about it in a country that big, given what’s going on, I mean, that’s tens of millions of dollars, that he’s effectively donated.
Related: ‘The Hell With It’: Elon Musk Reverses Course On Starlink Decision In Ukraine
