Former U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed a report by The New York Times alleging that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk was set to receive a classified Pentagon briefing on a possible military conflict with China.
In a statement posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump categorically denied the claim, stating, “China will not even be mentioned or discussed.”
The controversy arose after a report suggested that the Pentagon intended to brief Musk—a key Trump ally—on U.S. strategic preparations in case of a conflict with China. The report, citing two anonymous U.S. officials, claimed that the briefing would include 20 to 30 slides outlining potential military actions.
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While Trump refuted the allegations, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the meeting would focus on “innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.”
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Musk would be briefed on multiple topics at the Pentagon, including China. However, the details and scope of the discussions remain uncertain.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has played a key role in advising Trump on reducing government spending. His reported involvement in high-level military discussions has sparked concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly given Tesla’s business ties in China and SpaceX’s contracts with the U.S. government.
The White House has previously assured that Musk would recuse himself from discussions where his business interests could present a conflict with his government advisory role.
Tensions between the U.S. and China have been escalating in recent years due to trade disputes, technology access, cybersecurity concerns, and geopolitical issues related to Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The latest report adds further scrutiny to the complex relationship between the two global powers. Officials have yet to clarify Musk’s precise role in the Pentagon meeting or whether classified military plans will be disclosed.
