The Pentagon was scheduled to brief billionaire and curator of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk on Friday on the U.S. military's plan for any war that might break out with China, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing two U.S. officials. U.S. President Donald Trump called it fake, saying it was "wrong" that Elon Musk was going to the Pentagon to be briefed on any potential "war with China", UNN writes.
Details
The New York Times published a story citing its own sources that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Christopher Grady, and Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Samuel Paparo were scheduled to host a briefing for Musk on Friday and present him with details of a military plan that includes countering China in the event of a military conflict with the Celestial Empire.
Another official said the briefing would focus on China, without providing further details. A fourth official confirmed that Mr. Musk was scheduled to be at the Pentagon on Friday, but did not provide any details.
However, senior U.S. officials, including the Pentagon leadership, denied the information.
"Fake news has struck again, this time with the failing The New York Times. They wrongly said that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow (March 21 - ed.) to get information about any potential "war with China". How ridiculous. China will not even be mentioned or discussed, how disgraceful that discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, this story is completely false!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social social network.
"This is not a meeting about "top secret war plans with China." It will be an informal meeting about innovation, efficiency and smarter manufacturing!" U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth added on his X page.
"China will not even be mentioned or discussed. Just a brazen and malicious lie. Elon Musk is a patriot. We are proud to have him at the Pentagon," said Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell in Truth Social.
However, a White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the purpose of Musk's visit to the Pentagon, whether Trump knew about it, and whether the visit raises conflict of interest concerns.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell also did not respond to a similar email requesting comment on why Mr. Musk was to be briefed on the war plan with China.
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