The Trump administration denied reports that Elon Musk would be included in a “top secret” briefing on the Defense Department’s war plans for China.
On Thursday, the New York Times published a report later confirmed by the Wall Street Journal in which anonymous “U.S. officials” claimed Musk would sit in on a DOD briefing on Friday to hear about the “U.S. military’s plan for any war that might break out with China” and be privy to “one of the Pentagon’s most closely guarded operational blueprints.”
Those reports were ridiculed by President Donald Trump, Musk, and top DOD officials as “fake news,” although the administration did confirm Musk will be visiting the Pentagon for “an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies and smarter production.”
“The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times,” Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social. “How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!”
Musk highlighted Trump’s statement, adding that the New York Times story was “pure propaganda” and suggesting that “prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT” could be forthcoming.
Leakers “will be found,” Musk warned.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the meeting with Musk would not concern China.
“We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow,” the Pentagon chief wrote on X. “But the fake news delivers again — this is NOT a meeting about ‘top secret China war plans.’ It’s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great!”
The New York Times suggested in its report that the “top secret” briefing for Musk posed a conflict of interest because Musk, who leads SpaceX and Tesla, could use the information to get better outcomes for his companies.
The meeting “would be a tremendously valuable opportunity for any defense contractor seeking to sell services to the military,” the outlet wrote.
The reports came after a leading Chinese automaker unveiled an electric vehicle charging solution that outpaces Tesla’s technology. Build Your Dreams’s new charging solution means electric vehicles can recharge in roughly the same amount of time it takes to refuel a gasoline car, leading Chargeway CEO Matt Teske to tell Axios that “Tesla has definitely moved from leader to laggard in EV battery and charging technology at this point.”
The possibility that Musk could use the meeting to collect data about how to slash costs at the Pentagon through his Department of Government Efficiency initiative was also raised.
PETE HEGSETH UNVEILS ADDITIONAL $580 MILLION IN DOGE CUTS AT PENTAGON
DOGE is auditing the Pentagon, with Hegseth’s blessing, after the Defense Department failed six consecutive audits.
Hegseth announced Thursday that the department cut $580 million in “wasteful spending” due to “DOGE’s findings.”
