Updates with Trump response
Investing.com--U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday denied a report that Elon Musk will be briefed by the Pentagon on military operational plans for a potential war with China, although Musk is still set to meet military officials.
Trump said that China will "not even be mentioned or discussed" in a post on Truth.Social.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Musk will be at the Pentagon on Friday for "an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production," and that no "top secret China war plan" will be discussed.
Hegseth’s comments, which were made on X, could indicate that Musk’s Pentagon visit is linked to his efforts within the Department of Government Efficiency, which is seeking to slash government spending.
The New York Times (NYSE:NYT), and later the Wall Street Journal, reported on Thursday that Musk will be briefed on the country’s operation plans for a potential war with China on Friday. Top defense officials, including Secretary Pete Hegseth, will brief Musk, the reports said.
The WSJ reported that Musk will be briefed on a variety of military tactics, with China being one of the topics covered. Musk is receiving the briefing because he asked for one, the WSJ report said, with his role as a military adviser to Trump appearing unclear.
Reports of the briefing highlight an even greater increase in Musk’s influence in the White House, given his role as an adviser to President Donald Trump and his leadership of an agency aimed at slashing government spending.
The move also highlights growing questions about a conflict of interest for Musk, given that his businesses- particularly SpaceX and to a lesser extent Tesla- are beneficiaries of government contracts and subsidies.
Musk also has large financial interests in China, with the country serving as a major market and production hub for Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA).
SpaceX’s Starlink services were deployed in Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. The company’s fleet of low-orbit satellites are considered to be more resilient than traditional satellites, and have been deployed in other emergency situations as well- most recently the California wildfires.
Still, Musk’s role in the Trump administration has drawn public backlash, especially as DOGE, under Musk, outlined plans for the mass firing of federal workers and cost cuts across several key government agencies.
Tesla has been the target of this backlash, with protests and acts of violence being committed against the company and its vehicles across several U.S. states.