Trump says he spoke to Elon Musk about deploying Starlink in Helene ravaged

Former President Trump said he had discussions with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk about deploying Starlink in the wake of Hurricane Helene.  

Trump said Monday that he “just spoke to Elon” because he wanted to “get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever,” referencing people in some places that the massive hurricane barrelled through and severely impacted.

He also repeated that he had talked to Musk about North Carolina getting the satellite-based internet service in comments he made on Tuesday.

Former President Trump looks on during a rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, in Uniondale, N.Y., on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid / Reuters)

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates had posted Monday afternoon on X that “this was already happening” along with a FEMA press release.

HURRICANE HELENE DEVASTATION COULD COST UP TO $34B, MOODY’S SAYS

As of Monday, 40 Starlink satellite systems were “available to help with responder communications” in North Carolina plus 140 more were coming for “communications infrastructure restoration,” according to that release. Each county EOC was also slated to receive one. 

FOX Business reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment.

The number of Starlink satellite systems in North Carolina for responder communications had risen to 60 as of Tuesday, according to another FEMA press release.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 13: In this photo illustration, a Starlink system is shown on September 13, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. United Airlines announced today that it had reached a deal with Starlink and will soon be providing free internet for (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images)

A spokesperson for FEMA told FOX Business that the agency ordered Starlink terminals for the Hurricane Helene response over the weekend and that had nothing to do with the former president.

“Since the Hurricane Helene Disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need,” Musk said in an X post early Tuesday morning. “Earlier today, @realDonaldTrump alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.”

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Later in the day, the billionaire tech CEO said his company was sending as many terminals “as possible” to parts of the country impacted by Hurricane Helene.

More than 500 of SpaceX’s satellite-based internet service kits “have arrived, or will arrive shortly” in parts of the country impacted by Hurricane Helene for deployment by “private individuals and organizations,” according to a Tuesday post from Starlink.

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Storm damage near the Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina….