President Donald Trump stated on Friday that war plans should not be shared with his adviser, Elon Musk, due to the businessman’s interests in China, marking a rare acknowledgment that Musk’s involvement in the administration may have limits.
The comments came during an Oval Office meeting focused on the development of a new fighter jet, where Trump addressed reports suggesting that Musk would be briefed on potential strategies for a hypothetical war with China.“Elon has businesses in China,” Trump said. “And he could be vulnerable to that.”While Trump praised Musk’s patriotism, he highlighted the potential conflict of interest due to Musk’s business dealings, including Tesla’s efforts to expand its sales and production in China. This comment was an unusual recognition of the challenges Musk faces in balancing his business obligations with his role in government.Previously, Trump had downplayed concerns about Musk’s potential conflicts of interest, stating that he would avoid situations where such conflicts might arise.Trump also mentioned that Musk visited the Pentagon earlier that day to discuss cost reductions, a subject Musk has been working on through the Department of Government Efficiency.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explained that Musk’s visit was focused on “efficiencies and innovations.” Musk, when leaving the Pentagon, expressed his willingness to do “anything that could be helpful” but did not comment on whether he received any classified briefings regarding China during the visit.Musk has played a central role in Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the government, a stance that has attracted both strong support and criticism. Some lawmakers and voters have criticized Musk’s aggressive approach to laying off workers and cutting programs, while Trump’s supporters have praised his efforts.A senior defense official confirmed on Tuesday that the Pentagon plans to cut approximately 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs in its ongoing restructuring.
For more political updates, visit, DC Brief.
