Updated

According to reports detailed by PBS NewsHour on October 21, 2026, Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of Ukraine's Starshield defense systems, raising questions about the scope of his influence over US security interests. The report examined how the world's richest man has accumulated such power, with retired Air Force colonel Charles Galbreath of the Mitchell Institute discussing the implications. The discussion centered on the risks of a private individual holding significant sway over systems tied to national security and an active conflict zone.