In a late-night post on Thursday, President Donald Trump strongly refuted a New York Times report claiming tech billionaire Elon Musk was scheduled to receive a classified military briefing regarding a potential conflict with China. According to the Times, two U.S. officials confirmed that Musk, who serves as Trump’s top campaign donor and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, was expected at the Pentagon on Friday.
One official stated the meeting would center on China, while another merely confirmed Musk’s presence at the Pentagon. A fourth official did not comment on the topic of the meeting but acknowledged Musk’s attendance.
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The Times reported that providing Musk—currently the world’s richest person—with such access “to some of the nation’s most closely guarded military secrets would be a dramatic expansion of his already extensive role as an adviser to President Trump and leader of his effort to slash spending and purge the government of people and policies they oppose.”
The newspaper emphasized the sensitivity of the information allegedly being discussed, stating that the Pentagon’s operational plans “are among the military’s most closely guarded secrets.” Following the article’s publication, a wave of criticism erupted on social media, with many users expressing outrage over the potential blurring of lines between private enterprise and national defense.
President Trump, however, was quick to respond, using his Truth Social platform to reject the report outright. “The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times,” Trump posted. “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.
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How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!” As of Friday morning, neither the Pentagon nor Musk has publicly commented on the report. The New York Times has stood by its story, citing multiple sources within the U.S. government.
The controversy adds to ongoing debates over transparency, influence, and the increasingly complex relationship between Silicon Valley and national security policy under the Trump administration.
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