In a speech, US President Donald Trump affirmed that billionaire Elon Musk is not allowed to see the Pentagon's top-secret plans regarding potential conflict with China.
"I don't want to let anyone watch. We are talking about a potential conflict with China. Surely a businessman who is helping us a lot will not be seen. Elon Musk has businesses in China and he may be vulnerable to that," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 21.
The US president also dismissed media reports that the Pentagon had prepared to send Musk a summary of military strategy in the event of a conflict with China.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed that billionaire Musk was invited to the Pentagon to discuss his opposition Government Efficiency Board (DOGE), not issues related to China.
"It was a great, unofficial conversation. The information in the media is fake. There are no plans for war. There is no secret plan," said Mr. Hegseth.
Elon Musk, a close ally of President Trump, has long had business ties with China, raising some concerns about his influence in Washington's foreign policy with Beijing. Tesla, Musk's electric vehicle company, with two locations in Shanghai and China, is also the company's second largest market.
However, Mr. Trump has repeatedly affirmed that Mr. Musk does not have an conflict of interest when participating in reforming government agencies, including those that cooperate with the billionaire's businesses.
