President Donald Trump said he is not interested in showing “someone” plans for how the US will navigate the conflict with China after the New York Times reported that Elon Musk’s meeting at the Pentagon on Friday included details about a contingency plan for the war with Beijing.
Trump told reporters Friday that Musk will meet with Pentagon officials to discuss initiatives related to government efficiency (DOGE) in which Musk is at the forefront.
“We don’t want to have a potential war with China,” Trump said Friday in his oval office. “But if we did, we’re very well equipped to handle it. But I don’t want to show it to anyone. But certainly, you don’t show it to the businessmen who are helping us that much. He’s a great patriot.
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President Donald Trump shared details about Elon Musk’s meeting at the Pentagon after announcing plans for a new F-47 fighter jet on March 21, 2025 (Carlos Barrier/Reuters)
Musk and China could be a conflict of interest given the relationship between Tesla and SpaceX with the Department of Defense on military space capabilities. And enemies like China can learn more about US military war plans, put national security at risk and undermine the US military.
But Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said the mask meeting at the Pentagon centered on innovations and other ways to improve efficiency rather than China.
“There were no plans for war, there were no plans for China,” Hegses told the White House Friday. “There was no secret plan. That’s not what we were doing with the pentagon.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses and President Donald Trump (Getty)
Hegseth also announced plans to cancel the more than $580 million DoD contract on Thursday, following recommendations from Doge.
The New York Times reported Thursday evening that Musk’s Pentagon Briefing will include a presentation that includes 20-30 slides on how the US will fight China, various Chinese targets to attack, and how the Pentagon will share these plans with Trump.
The Times also reported that the meeting will take place in so-called tanks. The so-called tanks are safe meeting rooms reserved for the joint chiefs, senior staff and commanders of visiting combatants.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said on March 21, 2025, Elon Musk’s meeting at the Pentagon was linked to his work with the billionaire government efficiency department. (Reuters/Kent Nishimura/File Photo)
The Times report said details about China could have been shared with Musk amidst the possibility of Doge leading the Pentagon’s cuts.
When asked to comment on the nature of mask briefing, the White House introduced Fox News to Trump’s remarks.
Trump and Heggs pushed the report back Thursday, and Trump described the report as “not entirely true.” Hegseth also said in a post on X that the meeting with Musk would primarily touch on innovation.
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In response to Hegseth’s post, Musk replied, “Absolutely, I’ve been to the Pentagon many times over the years, not my first time in a building.”
Musk also said in another post he was looking at it “in the wake of prosecution of Pentagon people who are leaking malicious and false information to the NYT.”
“They’ll be found,” he said.
Diana Stancy is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, covering the White House.
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