Trump Acknowledges Musk’s China Ties, Rejects Access to Top-Secret War Plans

In a rare admission of potential conflict of interest, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk should not be privy to classified Pentagon war strategies involving China. Despite Musk’s close association with Trump and his significant role in cutting government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the former president made it clear that certain national security matters must remain off-limits.

“I don’t want to show it to anybody. You’re talking about a potential war with China,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “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.”

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has extensive business interests in China, including Tesla’s massive gigafactory in Shanghai. At the same time, he holds lucrative defense contracts with the U.S. government, making his dual role as an advisor to Trump a subject of growing scrutiny.

Trump’s remarks came in response to media reports that Musk was set to receive a classified Pentagon briefing on maritime warfare strategies in a secure military facility known as “The Tank.” However, the briefing was reportedly canceled after the news was leaked. Trump dismissed these reports, calling them “fake news” and once again labeling The New York Times as the “enemy of the people” for publishing the claims.

Despite the controversy, Musk remains a key figure in Trump’s efforts to streamline the federal government, particularly in defense spending. During the same Oval Office interaction, Trump praised the billionaire as a “patriot” and commended his work in reducing government inefficiencies.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Musk’s visit to the Pentagon as an “amazing visit” and emphasized ongoing collaboration between the entrepreneur and the defense establishment. Meanwhile, Musk himself responded to the allegations on his social media platform, X, dismissing the reports as “pure propaganda” and noting that he had been to the Pentagon numerous times before.

While Musk’s influence in both Washington and Beijing remains a point of debate, Trump has repeatedly defended his loyalty to the United States. However, concerns persist over his business dealings, particularly his past suggestions that Taiwan should become part of China, a stance that aligns with Beijing’s interests but contradicts U.S. foreign policy.

As the billionaire continues to navigate his dual roles as a private businessman and government advisor, questions about national security risks and conflicts of interest are likely to intensify, especially as U.S.-China tensions escalate.