A New York University professor has ignited controversy by calling SpaceX CEO Elon Musk a traitor and comparing him to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, the couple executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union.
Scott Galloway, who hosts a podcast in addition to his academic duties, made the inflammatory remarks on Election Day during an episode of his program. His comments centered on reports that SpaceX restricted Starlink satellite internet speeds in Ukraine last month, allegedly disrupting Ukrainian military operations during the ongoing war with Russia.
Galloway constructed an elaborate historical analogy to make his case, invoking aviator Charles Lindbergh and a hypothetical scenario set in the 1930s. He asked his audience to imagine Lindbergh purchasing an aircraft manufacturer and then sabotaging American military equipment being loaned to Britain during World War II.
"I believe that has almost exactly played out in the last few weeks with Elon Musk throttling back Starlink," Galloway stated. "We took the Rosenbergs and put them up against a wall and executed them for being traitors. I realize this is an incendiary statement, but I will make it, and I believe it. I think Elon Musk is a traitor to the West."
The professor went further, arguing that American society has become so enamored with wealthy innovators that it has lost sight of what constitutes betrayal. He suggested that in any other era, without what he termed "the idolatry of innovators and money," Musk would face severe consequences for his actions.
Musk has defended his company’s position, stating that Ukraine violated the terms of service for Starlink, which is designated as a civilian commercial service. According to Musk, using Starlink for offensive drone strikes has never been permitted under the service agreement.
This is not the first time Galloway has made such comparisons. On another podcast appearance, he repeated his assertion that Musk should be held to the same standards as the Rosenbergs.
The accusations have drawn sharp rebuttals. Theo Wold, who served as a White House deputy assistant for domestic policy during President Donald Trump’s first term, dismissed Galloway’s rhetoric as absurd. He characterized Musk as an innovator who represents the technological advancement and optimism central to Western civilization.
Wold suggested that the criticism of Musk stems from political motivations, noting that the entrepreneur was celebrated by Democrats until he began supporting Republican causes. He accused Galloway of advocating for a partisan witch hunt and endorsing violence against political opponents.
The controversy comes as Musk has taken on a new role in the incoming Trump administration, where he will help shape the future of American warfare and defense technology. His companies, particularly SpaceX, have become integral to American military and communications infrastructure.
The debate raises complex questions about the responsibilities of private companies providing critical infrastructure during wartime, the proper use of civilian technology in military operations, and the boundaries between legitimate criticism and inflammatory rhetoric in political discourse.
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