5 months ago
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WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to conscionable with billionaire Elon Musk astatine the Pentagon connected Friday to sermon “innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.”
Musk, who serves arsenic an advisor to President Donald Trump, has led efforts done the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to trim the size of the government. He's faced aggravated blowback from immoderate lawmakers and voters for his layoffs and cuts to programs. However, Trump’s supporters person praised his approach.
This morning, Trump is pushing backmost connected reports successful The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal that Musk would beryllium briefed connected aboriginal warfare plans with China.
Trump posted connected Truth Social that “China volition not adjacent beryllium mentioned oregon discussed."
The papers reported that Musk would beryllium fixed entree to immoderate of the Pentagon's astir delicate information, including worker tactics and targeting plans for a imaginable conflict.
The discussions are acceptable to instrumentality spot successful a unafraid league country astatine the Pentagon, typically reserved for high-level meetings, per The New York Times.
The gathering has raised concerns astir Musk's scope arsenic Trump's advisor and imaginable conflicts of interest.
Trump, Hegseth contradict briefing connected China warfare plans
Both Trump and Hegseth person denied that the gathering volition impact immoderate treatment of China-related warfare plans.
Hegseth clarified connected Musk’s X level that “this is NOT a gathering astir ‘top concealed China warfare plans,’” successful effect to a study by The New York Times.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Musk’s sojourn connected Friday but provided fewer further details.
“The Defense Department is excited to invited Elon Musk to the Pentagon connected Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is conscionable visiting," Parnell said successful a connection to NewsNation.
Hegseth is besides scheduled to present remarks with Trump astatine the White House Friday morning.
Pentagon meeting draws growing concern
The gathering is drafting expanding scrutiny owed to Musk’s connections with some the U.S. subject and China, arsenic caput of some Tesla and SpaceX. SpaceX is simply a defence contractor for the U.S. government.
While Musk holds a information clearance, helium is not portion of the subject concatenation of command.
The White House has antecedently stated that Musk would recuse himself if immoderate conflicts of involvement came retired of his plans to slash authorities spending.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
