Verizon didn’t run an outside search process to replace Sampath, some of the people said. “It’s not a surprise that some employees may be concerned about the direction of the company,” a Verizon spokesperson said. Musk looms large over Verizon and its competitors, AT&T and T-Mobile. Asked directly about whether he would seek to purchase a carrier — specifically, Verizon — Musk in September 2025 said on the All-In podcast: “It’s not out of the question. AD“Any assertion that Verizon is being positioned for a sale to SpaceX — or any other entity — is unequivocally false, unsubstantiated, and entirely without merit,” the Verizon spokesperson said.