Elon Musk will provide internet access via Starlink to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, according to former President Donald Trump.
Trump announced Musk's assistance to those effected by the hurricane during a campaign event in Valdosta, Georgia on Monday.
“Homes, hospitals, highways, and cars have been plunged under water,” Trump said. “Entire neighborhoods have been turned into lakes. Nobody’s seen anything like it. And every family that’s been displaced here in Georgia and North Carolina, which has really been hit, we’re going there also. They don’t have communication, they don’t have anything right now.”
“I just spoke to Elon,” Trump continued. “I’m getting him, we want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever. And Elon will always come through, and we know that. And so we’re working on that, getting them hooked up, they asked me whether or not that would be possible."
"We’re going to try and get the Starlink in there as soon as possible because they have no communication," he added. President Trump says that he spoke to @elonmusk about getting Starlink set up for the hurricane victims who have lost communication. pic.twitter.com/2BEDyPzblZ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 30, 2024
“And throughout the region, our hearts are with you, and we are going to be with you as long as you need it,” the former president continued. “It’s called an hour of need. You’re in our prayers, and we pray to God. And throughout ... the long weeks that lay ahead, you’re going to have a lot of work, but the end result is it’s going to be good. We just wish so many people weren’t so badly hurt and in many cases, sadly, no longer with us. We love you.”
Early Tuesday morning, Musk announced that Starlink's parent company, SpaceX, had deployed terminals to the area.
"Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need," Musk wrote to X. "Earlier today, Donald Trump alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away." Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need.
Earlier today, @realDonaldTrump alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2024
The former president also authorized the launch of a GoFundMe in support of Hurricane Helene victims. The campaign has currently raised over $2.8 million as of Tuesday morning.
Top donors include former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler with a $500,000 contribution, followed by billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, lawyer Dan Newlin, Bass Pro Shops, and UFC President Dana White, who each contributed $100,000. Kid Rock has also donated $20,000 to the fundraiser.
