Trump won’t let Musk see US war strategy over ‘conflict of interest’ in potential US-China war
Elon Musk should not see top secret US plans for any war with China, President Donald Trump has said – an admission that his billionaire ally’s business links raise potential conflicts of interest.
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President Donald Trump said Friday that Elon Musk should not be allowed to see top secret US plans for any war with China, in a rare admission that his billionaire ally’s business links raised potential conflicts of interest.
Trump strongly denied media reports that the world’s richest man, who is now leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), would receive a classified Pentagon briefing on its war strategy.
Tesla and Space X boss Musk has major business interests in China but also has huge US defence contracts, while his status as an unelected adviser to Trump has raised concerns about his influence.
“I don’t want to show it to anybody. You’re talking about a potential war with China,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“Certainly you wouldn’t show it to a businessman who is helping us so much … Elon has businesses in China and he would be susceptible perhaps to that.”
Trump, who was unveiling a contract for Boeing to build the next-generation F-47 fighter jet, described Musk as a “patriot” and hailed his efforts to slash back the US federal government, including the Defense Department.
Musk was at the Pentagon on Friday, but Trump attacked reports, first published in the New York Times, about the visit.
“They really are the enemy of the people,” Trump said of the Times, which reported Musk was to receive a briefing in a secure room dubbed “The Tank” on maritime tactics and targeting plans.
The paper said the briefing was called off after it was publicised.
‘AMAZING VISIT’
China is increasingly regarded by the US as its biggest rival causing tensions to soar as the world’s two largest economies hit each other with tariffs.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed the “amazing visit” by Musk to the Pentagon.
“I look forward to continuing our work together,” Hegseth said on X.
Musk joined the chorus of criticism against the New York Times, labelling it “pure propaganda” on his social media platform X.
“I’ve been to the Pentagon many times over many years. Not my first time in the building,” he wrote.
But Musk has longstanding business ties to China.
His company Tesla produces some of its electric vehicles at a huge so-called gigafactory in Shanghai and is trying to compete with fast-growing Chinese manufacturers.
The entrepreneur has become a cult figure in China and has fostered ties with its leadership. He has also suggested the self-ruled island of Taiwan should become part of China.
The US President has repeatedly insisted that Musk has no conflicts of interest, even as the tech billionaire leads a harsh overhaul of US government agencies, some of which have dealings with Musk’s companies.
Musk’s SpaceX has US government defence contracts worth billions of dollars, including for launching rockets and for the use of the Starlink satellite service.
Trump has recently further blurred the line by promoting Tesla cars after attacks by vandals over Musk’s links to the White House.
President Trump suggested Friday that such vandals could be deported to prisons in El Salvador.
Democrats have meanwhile blasted the president for handing administration policy to Musk despite him undergoing no background checks and heading companies with government contracts.
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Originally published as Trump won’t let Musk see US war strategy over ‘conflict of interest’ in potential US-China war
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