Elon Musk to receive access to Pentagon’s top-secret China war plans, says NYT report

With Washington and Beijing at odds for years, the revelation that a private businessman will be briefed on classified military planning has only intensified the debate on national security and ethical governance

PGurus Newsdesk

March 21, 2025

With Washington and Beijing at odds for years, the revelation that a private businessman will be briefed on classified military planning has only intensified the debate on national security and ethical governance

Musk’s expanding role in Trump administration raises eyebrows

Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul and close adviser to US President Donald Trump, is set to receive a classified Pentagon briefing on potential US military strategies in the event of a war with China, according to a report by The New York Times citing US officials.

The Department of Defense confirmed Musk’s scheduled visit on Friday, though details remain tightly held. A Pentagon spokesperson said Musk was invited by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is “just visiting.”

“The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson.

However, another official Pentagon account, DoD Rapid Response, dismissed the NYT report as “FAKE news”, accusing the outlet of clickbait journalism.

Briefing details: War plan with China

According to NYT sources, Musk will be shown 20 to 30 slides detailing classified US strategies on how to respond militarily to a potential conflict with China. The presentation reportedly outlines target options and timelines and will also be shown to President Trump.

A US official, speaking anonymously, stated that senior military officials will be present during Musk’s briefing, which will cover a broad range of national security topics, with a focus on China.

Conflicts of interest and business ties

Musk’s unprecedented access to sensitive national security plans has sparked concerns over conflicts of interest, given his dual roles as head of Tesla and SpaceX—companies with significant business dealings in both China and with the US government.

While the White House previously said Musk would recuse himself from any situation involving a conflict between his business interests and government advisory roles, critics argue that the overlap is already problematic.

The NYT described the move as a “dramatic expansion” of Musk’s influence within the Trump administration, where he also leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a unit focused on cutting federal spending and reducing bureaucratic waste.

Musk responds to scrutiny

In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Musk responded to recent criticism, saying:

“They basically want to kill me because I’m stopping their fraud… They want to hurt Tesla because we’re stopping the terrible waste and corruption in the government.”

He claimed that the backlash is the result of efforts to cut fraudulent government spending, adding:

“Bad people do bad things.”

Geopolitical context

Musk’s upcoming Pentagon visit comes amid growing tensions between the US and China on several fronts—including trade, technology access, Taiwan, cybersecurity, and human rights issues.

With Washington and Beijing at odds for years, the revelation that a private businessman will be briefed on classified military planning has only intensified the debate on national security and ethical governance.

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