Elon Musk Calls Zelensky’s Government a ‘Fraud Machine’ as Washington’s Rift With Ukraine Deepens
Elon Musk has escalated his attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling his administration a “fraud machine feeding off the dead bodies of soldiers.” The tech billionaire’s remarks come amid growing tensions between Ukraine and key figures in Donald Trump’s inner circle.
Musk’s statement is expected to further inflame Washington’s war of words with Kyiv after the White House revealed that Trump has a “personal” problem with Zelensky and is deeply “frustrated” with him.
Musk Doubles Down on Election Claims
Posting on his X platform, Musk echoed Trump’s repeated calls for Ukraine to hold elections, accusing Zelensky of canceling them because he fears losing in a landslide.
“In reality, he is despised by the people of Ukraine, which is why he has refused to hold an election. I challenge Zelensky to hold an election and refute this. He will not.”
Musk went further, supporting Trump’s stance on Ukraine by saying:
“President Trump is right to ignore him and solve for peace independent of the disgusting, massive graft machine feeding off the dead bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.”
While Musk didn’t elaborate, his comments align with Trump’s claims that Zelensky is trying to keep “the gravy train” of foreign aid flowing to Ukraine.
Trump Attacks Zelensky, Calls Him a ‘Dictator Without Elections’
Trump himself ramped up his criticism of Zelensky this week, blaming him for the war in Ukraine despite Russia being the clear aggressor. In response, Zelensky accused Trump of falling for Russian propaganda.
Trump fired back, calling Zelensky “a dictator without elections,” despite the Ukrainian leader winning 73% of the vote in the 2019 presidential election. Zelensky has maintained that elections were only paused due to martial law imposed during the war.
Musk’s Chainsaw Stunt at CPAC
Musk made headlines at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he appeared alongside Argentina’s President Javier Milei. In a dramatic moment, Musk held up a chainsaw while wearing aviator sunglasses and a MAGA hat, symbolizing deep spending cuts to government programs.
The moment quickly went viral, fueling speculation about Musk’s growing influence in right-wing political circles.
Trump’s Mysterious ‘4% Approval’ Claim Discredited
During his latest tirade, Trump claimed that Zelensky’s approval rating had plunged to just 4%, implying he had lost all support from Ukrainians. However, this claim was quickly debunked.
A respected poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) earlier this month found Zelensky still holds a 57% approval rating.
In response, Zelensky hit back:
“We have evidence that these figures are being discussed between America and Russia. Unfortunately, President Trump lives in a disinformation space.”
U.S. Wants Ukraine’s Mineral Wealth as ‘Repayment’ for Aid
Behind the growing tensions, Trump’s team has made it clear they expect something in return for the billions in military aid the U.S. has given Ukraine.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz laid out Trump’s position, stating that if Ukraine wants to regain favor with Washington, Zelensky must:
✔️ Come back to the negotiating table for peace talks
✔️ Show appreciation for U.S. support
✔️ Offer access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources
Ukraine has 5% of the world’s total rare earth mineral reserves, crucial for modern electronics and batteries. Trump has demanded that Ukraine hand over $500 billion worth of these resources as repayment for U.S. assistance.
However, Zelensky has outright rejected the deal, saying it lacked necessary security guarantees:
“I defend Ukraine. I can’t sell our country.”
Trump’s Team Secretly Meets With Russia—Without Ukraine
Amid all this, Trump administration officials have quietly begun peace talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia—without inviting Ukraine.
Moscow has reportedly doubled down on its demands, insisting that Ukraine must remain out of NATO as part of any settlement. Meanwhile, Trump himself has continued to criticize NATO, urging other countries to contribute more to its budget.
Europe Scrambles to Respond as U.S. Shifts Stance on Ukraine
With Trump’s position on Ukraine shifting, European leaders are scrambling to hold their own peace talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with Trump at the White House on Monday, where he plans to deliver a blunt message:
“You can’t be weak with President Putin. That’s not who you are, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest.”
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is also set to meet with Trump later in the week.
The Future of U.S.-Ukraine Relations Hangs in the Balance
As Trump continues to distance himself from Zelensky, and figures like Musk fuel public distrust of Ukraine, it remains unclear what direction U.S. policy will take.
With secret talks between Trump and Russia already underway, and Ukraine excluded from the negotiating table, the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations could be heading for a dramatic shift.
Will Trump strike a deal with Putin? And if he does, what will it mean for Ukraine’s survival?
