According to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N. Y., SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have “no business” conducting businesses at the Pentagon. This statement comes amid reports that Musk would receive secret information from top military officials about military contingency plans in case a war breaks out with China.
The New York Times reported that Musk was set to receive military plans about any potential China conflict; however, the Pentagon and White House reacted and stated Musk’s briefing wouldn’t cover China.
A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gillibrand, posted on X that “Elon Musk is an unelected, self-interested billionaire with no business anywhere near the Pentagon.”
The prospect of Musk obtaining information on China raises a potential conflict of interest, given that SpaceX is collaborating with the U.S. federal government on military space capabilities and that Musk has financial interests in China from Tesla.
The Trump administration, however, quickly reacted negatively to the Times’ reporting, and Trump publicly criticized the piece on social media, calling it “completely untrue.”
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President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential ‘war with China.’ How ridiculous! China will not even be mentioned or discussed.
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According to a former official from the Obama administration, Musk’s visit to the Pentagon also raised concerns.
The former communications director for the Democratic National Committee and spokesperson for former Attorney General Eric Holder, Xochitl Hinojosa, said that career officials must have disclosed information about the meeting to the media because they were worried about what would be shared with Musk.
Hinojosa said in an interview on Thursday night that “what is happening here, and everyone needs to be scared, is Pentagon officials are sounding the alarm.” “This doesn’t just happen on its own. This has happened because career officials in the Pentagon are terrified. And they believe there is a conflict of interest. That is why it is in the New York Times. Because I am sure they took it to the senior-most people within the White House and within the Pentagon and they didn’t do anything about it.
Hegseth also expressed his opinion on the matter and said the meeting with Musk would primarily center around innovation.
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Hegseth said in a post on X late Thursday evening that “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, and smarter production. Gonna be great!”
Musk responded to Hegseth’s post that “Exactly. Also, I’ve been to the Pentagon many times over many years. Not my first time in the building.”
Elon Musk also said in a separate X post that he looks “forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT.“
He added that “they will be found.”
