Trump Downplays China War Plan Report, Defends Musk’s Role
President Donald Trump has vehemently denied a recent New York Times report alleging that SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk was briefed on highly sensitive contingency plans for a potential conflict with China during a meeting at the Pentagon on Friday. The report suggested that the briefing included detailed plans on how the U.S. would navigate a war with Beijing, prompting concerns about national security and potential conflicts of interest given Musk’s extensive business dealings with China.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Friday, Trump dismissed the report as "completely untrue," asserting that he would never share such classified information with a businessman, even one he considers a "great patriot" who is helping the government cut costs.
"We don’t want to have a potential war with China," Trump stated. "But I can tell you if we did, we’re very well-equipped to handle it. But I don’t want to show that to anybody. But, certainly, you wouldn’t show it to a businessman who is helping us so much. He’s a great patriot. He’s taken a big price for helping us cut costs, and he’s doing a great job."
The New York Times report claimed that Musk’s Pentagon briefing involved a presentation with 20-30 slides outlining how the U.S. would combat China, including potential targets and how the Pentagon would share these plans with Trump. The report further stated that the meeting took place in the "Tank," a secure conference room reserved for the joint chiefs, senior staff, and visiting combatant commanders.
The report raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given Tesla’s significant business operations in China and SpaceX’s close relationship with the Pentagon on military space capabilities. Critics argued that sharing sensitive war plans with someone with such deep ties to China could pose a significant national security risk and undermine U.S. forces.
However, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who was also present at the White House, corroborated Trump’s account, asserting that Musk’s meeting at the Pentagon was primarily focused on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative Musk is spearheading to streamline government operations and reduce wasteful spending.
"There were no war plans. There were no Chinese war plans," Hegseth stated emphatically. "There were no secret plans. That’s not what we were doing at the Pentagon."
Hegseth also announced plans to cancel more than $580 million in Department of Defense contracts, following recommendations from DOGE, further underscoring the initiative’s impact on reducing government spending.
The New York Times report suggested that details on China could have been shared with Musk amid his efforts leading DOGE and potential cuts to the Department of Defense. However, both Trump and Hegseth have strongly refuted this claim, maintaining that the meeting was strictly focused on efficiency and innovation within the Department of Defense.
The White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump’s remarks when asked for comment about the nature of Musk’s briefing.
In response to Hegseth’s post on X, Musk responded, "Exactly. Also, I’ve been to the Pentagon many times over many years. Not my first time in the building."
Musk also expressed his outrage at the leaks in a separate post, stating that he looks "forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT." He added, "They will be found."
The controversy surrounding Musk’s Pentagon meeting highlights the delicate balance between fostering innovation and safeguarding national security. While Musk’s contributions to cost-cutting and efficiency within the government are undeniable, his business ties to China have raised legitimate concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly when it comes to sensitive military information.
The incident also underscores the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and The New York Times, with both sides accusing the other of spreading false information and engaging in biased reporting. The conflicting accounts from the White House and The New York Times have further fueled the controversy and left the public with differing perceptions of the event.
Ultimately, the truth about the nature of Musk’s Pentagon briefing may remain unclear, but the incident has undoubtedly sparked a broader debate about the role of private sector leaders in national security and the importance of protecting classified information in an increasingly interconnected world. The incident will likely lead to increased scrutiny of Musk’s interactions with the government and a renewed focus on safeguarding national security in the face of potential conflicts of interest. It may also encourage more rigorous vetting processes for individuals involved in sensitive government initiatives.
