Elon Musk slams calls to nationalize SpaceX and Starlink as 'serious crime'

US billionaire Elon Musk has escalated his criticism of former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich, after Reich urged Democrats to cut funding to Musk's companies SpaceX and Starlink and begin proceedings to nationalize them as state-owned enterprises.

Musk wrote on X: "Stealing companies is a serious crime... jail for Reich."

Reich, speaking on the podcast 'The Coffee Klatch,' called on Democrats to take action against Musk, urging them to withdraw funding and establish the legal and institutional framework to nationalize SpaceX and Starlink and transfer them to public ownership.

Reich argued that the US government's reliance—especially the Department of Defense—on Starlink systems gives Musk excessive influence, describing it as an example of wealthy individuals wielding power at the expense of democracy.

A clip of Reich's remarks, shared by journalist Colin Rugg, sparked widespread debate on social media, with opinions divided over the extent of government intervention in private companies providing strategic services, and the role of government contracts in the relationship between the private sector and national security.

Musk spends millions of dollars supporting Republican candidates in the US midterm elections, while Democrats continue to raise concerns about conflicts of interest in SpaceX and Starlink's government contracts and Musk's role in reducing government spending.