Pentagon Disputes NYT Report on Elon Musk’s Meeting and War Plans
The Pentagon denied a New York Times report claiming Elon Musk would be briefed on US military plans concerning China. During a meeting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured there were no discussions of classified war strategies. Musk criticized the report as propaganda and raised concerns about conflicts of interest due to his business connections in China. Democratic senators demand transparency about information shared with Musk after the meeting.
The Pentagon has issued a firm rebuttal to a recent New York Times report alleging that Elon Musk would be privy to confidential war plans regarding China. This statement came after a significant 80-minute meeting between Musk and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, highlighting Musk’s role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the ongoing discussions about his business links with the Pentagon.
Ahead of the meeting, Musk criticized the New York Times article on social media, decrying it as “pure propaganda” and threatening legal action against the sources of what he termed “maliciously false information.” He expressed his intent to hold accountable those at the Pentagon who leaked the misleading report, emphasizing his commitment to refute any insinuations made against him.
In direct response to the NYT claims, Secretary Hegseth clarified that the meeting did not involve any discussion of classified war plans or strategies regarding China, stating, “There was no war plans, no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans.” Nevertheless, speculation infused by the New York Times report regarding Musk’s potential conflicts of interest, particularly given his companies’ ties to China, persisted.
US President Donald Trump, present alongside Hegseth, alluded to the concerns raised by Musk’s business connections, suggesting that revealing sensitive military information to a businessman may present security risks. He stated, “I don’t want to show that to anybody. But 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.”
In light of the meeting and the surrounding controversies, Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth have demanded transparency regarding the information shared with Musk. They argue that there is no national security basis for disclosing sensitive details to a business figure such as Musk, whose companies are financially intertwined with Pentagon contracts. Despite the scrutiny, Musk expressed a positive outlook on the meeting’s outcomes, stating, “If there’s anything I can do to be helpful, I would like us to have a good outcome here.”
In summary, the Pentagon firmly rejected the notion that Elon Musk would receive classified information regarding potential military plans against China. The meeting between Musk and Hegseth focused on innovation rather than sensitive topics. However, concerns regarding Musk’s connections to China and his influence on federal spending have prompted calls for transparency from Democratic leaders. Musk remains optimistic about his role in government efficiency despite the controversy surrounding his affiliations.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
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