Washington DC [US]: The US Department of Defense is reportedly set to brief Elon Musk on potential war plans with China, according to a New York Times (NYT) report. The briefing would mark a significant expansion of Musk’s government involvement and raise concerns over potential conflicts of interest, as the Tesla and SpaceX CEO holds extensive financial ties with China.
Conflicting Reports on Pentagon Briefing
The NYT report, citing sources, claims that Musk, who also heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will be briefed on Friday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior US generals regarding US war plans against China.
The classified briefing is expected to contain 20 to 30 slides outlining the US strategy for countering China in a military conflict, including specific Chinese targets and operational timelines.
However, both the Pentagon and former President Donald Trump denied that the briefing would focus on military plans against China.
Trump dismissed the NYT report as “fake news” and posted on Truth Social:
“The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. 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. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!”
Similarly, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated:
“The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting.”
Musk’s Government Ties and Military Contracts
The NYT report claims that Defense Secretary Hegseth, Admiral Christopher W. Grady (acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo (head of Indo-Pacific Command) were scheduled to present Musk with details on US plans for military conflict with China.
Musk’s visit comes as the Pentagon evaluates major structural cuts to the military’s top leadership—an initiative backed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to align with the Trump administration’s goal of shrinking the US government.
CNN also reported that Musk has lucrative defense contracts with the US Department of Defense, including a $733 million contract awarded to SpaceX by the US Space Force in October 2024.
Tesla Shares Drop Amid Controversy
Following the NYT report, Tesla shares fell 5.6% on Thursday and are now down 45% from their December peak, giving up 96% of the post-election gains, CNN reported.
As tensions rise over US-China relations and Musk’s growing government role, the uncertainty surrounding the Pentagon meeting adds another layer of complexity to the billionaire entrepreneur’s political and business landscape.