US politics live: Musk’s top-secret Pentagon meeting nixed after word got out

An extraordinary top secret meeting Elon Musk was due to have regarding the US’ China war plans was reportedly scrapped at the last minute.

Welcome to our coverage of US politics.

A Friday briefing with military leaders that Elon Musk was set to have – regarding top secret details of the US’ strategy should it ever go to war with China – was reportedly scrapped after it became public.

When word got out about the extraordinary access Mr Musk was reportedly about to get, alarm bells began ringing around DC.

Questions were asked as to why Mr Musk would need to see such top secret plans.

President Donald Trump dismissed the reports of a Musk briefing as “ridiculous” and fake. But he added he wouldn’t give Mr Musk access to the war plans anyway as he would be “susceptible” due to his business interests in China.

Donald Trump has also effectively shut down the Department of Education as the White House takes a chainsaw to the federal bureaucracy.

Read on for updates.