Donald Trump Denies Report Claiming Elon Musk Would Be Briefed On China At Pentagon

Last Updated:March 21, 2025, 08:55 IST

Donald Trump denied reports that Elon Musk would receive a Pentagon briefing on US war plans for China, calling it "fake news". He asserted that China would not be discussed.

US President Donald Trump with Elon Musk (Photo: AP)

US President Donald Trump on Friday refuted a report by The New York Times, which claimed Elon Musk was scheduled to be briefed by the Pentagon on the United States’ military plan for a possible war with China.

The report quoted two US officials as saying that the briefing is scheduled for Friday.

Quoting another official, the report claimed the briefing will be China-focused.

However, in a post on his social media handle, Truth Social, Trump said the report was incorrect.

“The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential “war with China." How ridiculous?" China will not even be mentioned or discussed," Trump wrote.

“How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!," he added.

The report claimed Sean Parnell, the chief Defense Department spokesman, in a statement said, “The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting."

Billionaire Elon Musk, who owns social media platform X, space agency SpaceX, and American multinational automotive Tesla, is heading the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Donald Trump taking to office in January this year.

Pentagon war plans, known in military jargon as O-plans or operational plans, are among the military’s most closely guarded secrets, the report stated.

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