Putin’s ‘Mars-Obsessed’ Praise Raises Musk Influence Concerns

ByEthan Pineridge

Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles by publicly lavishing praise on Elon Musk, comparing the American entrepreneur to the legendary Soviet space engineer Sergei Korolev. The unexpected comments came during a meeting with students focused on Russia’s space policy, where Putin described Musk as someone “absolutely crazy about Mars” and part of a rare class of visionaries, according to Yahoo News.

“Such people rarely appear in the human population, charged with a certain idea. Even though it may seem incredible to me today, after a time such ideas are often realized,” Putin remarked, drawing a direct parallel between Musk and Korolev, who orchestrated the Soviet Union’s groundbreaking achievement of sending Yuri Gagarin on humanity’s first crewed spaceflight in a historical 1961 milestone.

The timing of Putin’s admiration has sparked concern among U.S. security analysts, as it comes amid growing scrutiny of Musk’s influence over critical American infrastructure and his role as a top advisor to President Donald Trump.

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Security Implications of “Outstanding Person” Comments

This isn’t the first time Putin has spoken favorably about Musk, having previously described him as an “outstanding person.” However, the latest comparison to Korolev—a figure of immense historical significance in Russia—represents a notable elevation in rhetoric.

The praise comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as whistleblower allegations have emerged claiming that Russian entities may have gained access to U.S. government systems through connections to DOGE, where Musk serves as a key figure. According to Mediaite, a National Labor Relations Board employee has alleged that Russian actors attempted to access government systems using DOGE credentials.

The whistleblower’s attorney, Andrew Bakaj, specifically claimed that “DOGE has also been using Starlink as a means to exfiltrate data” and suggested that “Russia has a direct pipeline of information through Starlink, which means that anything going through Starlink is going to Russia.”

Mars Dreams and Geopolitical Realities

Putin’s specific mention of Musk’s Mars ambitions comes as SpaceX continues to make significant advances with its Starship program, which is explicitly designed for eventual Mars colonization. While the Russian space program has struggled with funding limitations and technical setbacks in recent years, Putin has consistently emphasized the strategic importance of space capabilities.

International relations experts suggest the public praise could be interpreted as an attempt to cultivate a relationship with Musk, whose companies play increasingly vital roles in American defense, communications, and space infrastructure. This potential connection becomes more concerning given Musk’s unprecedented level of access to government systems through his DOGE advisory role.

“When a foreign leader—particularly one with whom the United States has strained relations—singles out a presidential advisor for such specific praise, it raises legitimate questions about the nature of any existing relationship,” said international security analyst Victoria Chambers, who specializes in U.S.-Russia relations.

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Ukraine Criticism Adds Context

Putin’s comments gain additional significance considering Musk’s increasingly vocal criticism of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Yahoo News reports that Musk “has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Ukraine, which has been fighting against Russia since 2022, when the Kremlin ordered tens of thousands of troops into its neighbour’s territory.”

This alignment with Kremlin positioning on a major geopolitical conflict, combined with Musk’s access to sensitive government systems and Putin’s public admiration, creates a complex web of relationships that security experts find troubling.

Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul expressed concern about the dynamic on social media: “When Putin singles someone out for comparison to Soviet heroes, it’s never accidental. The question becomes why this praise now, and what message is being sent.”

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Congressional Scrutiny Expected

Congressional leaders have indicated plans to examine the relationship between Musk’s companies and Russian entities more closely. Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, called for “thorough examination of any potential vulnerabilities created by foreign praise of individuals with access to our most sensitive systems.”

As both a presidential advisor and the head of companies involved in national security, space exploration, satellite communications, and artificial intelligence, Musk occupies an unprecedented position of influence. Putin’s public praise adds another dimension to the ongoing debate about potential conflicts of interest and security concerns.

The White House has not yet issued an official response to Putin’s comments or their potential implications for Musk’s advisory role.

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