Anamika Dey, editor
In brief
- Elon Musk is scheduled to visit the Pentagon for a briefing on military plans regarding China, although the briefing is not classified.
- There are conflicting reports about the nature of the briefing, with Trump and Pentagon officials denying any discussion of China, labeling the New York Times report as “fake news.”
- Musk’s involvement raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to his business ties with the federal government, including contracts with the Defense Department.
Detailed news
WASHINGTON — According to two officials from the Department of Defense, Elon Musk, a tech entrepreneur and adviser to President Trump, is slated to visit the Pentagon on Friday for a briefing that will include a talk on China.
It has been stated by the officials that the briefing will not be classified.
Musk will be informed on the United States military’s plans for any hypothetical battle with China, according to a report that was published in the New York Times on Thursday night. The claim cited two officials from the United States. According to the article from the Times, one official acknowledged that the briefing will be centered on China, and another official simply verified that Musk would be present at the Pentagon on Friday.
When NBC News attempted to validate the Times’ allegation that Musk was briefed on plans for any future battle with China, also known as the operational plan or O plan, the defense officials that NBC News contacted were unable to provide a confirmation.
If Musk were to get briefed on China, it would be a significant expansion of his role within the Trump administration, and it would also raise the possibility that he would have access to the nation’s most tightly guarded secrets. Although Trump has charged Musk with overseeing a government cost-cutting initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency, there is a possibility that Musk could have conflicts of interest due to the fact that his own products and businesses are utilized by the federal government. These include Starlink and SpaceX, both of which have contracts with the Defense Department.
A tweet that Trump made on Truth Social late on Thursday night refuted the notion that the briefing that Musk was scheduled to get on Friday would include a discussion of China.
Elon Musk is scheduled to visit the Pentagon tomorrow to receive a briefing on any potential “war with China,” according to Trump, who stated that the Times got the information wrong. What is this absurdity? Not even a single remark or discussion of China will take place. What a disgrace it is that the media, which has been deemed unreliable, can fabricate such lies. In any case, the story is totally and entirely false!!!
In addition, Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, referred to the reporting of the Times as “100% Fake News” in a post on X. “It is both blatantly and maliciously incorrect. A nationalist, Elon Musk is a man. This is a source of great pride for us here at the Pentagon.
Source : New York Times, CNBC news
