Trump Erupts Over Elon’s Access to China War Plans: “He Shouldn’t Be There!”
A classified Pentagon meeting that was set to brief Elon Musk on sensitive U.S. military plans involving China was abruptly canceled — by direct order of former President Donald Trump, according to a report from Axios.
The scheduled briefing, which aimed to discuss national security strategies in the event of a conflict with China, came under intense scrutiny after The New York Times leaked its existence on March 20.
The leak triggered an immediate backlash within the Trump administration.
According to sources cited by Axios, Trump was furious and questioned why Musk — who has deep business ties in China through Tesla — was involved in such a high-level military discussion.
“What is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn’t go,” Trump reportedly told aides.
Musk’s Role Raises Red Flags
While Elon Musk is a major defense contractor through SpaceX, his business interests in China have long been a point of concern in Washington.
Though Musk was originally invited to a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top officials, the idea of providing him access to war-planning intelligence raised red flags.
An official close to the matter said: “The President still likes Elon, but there are limits. This wasn’t the right forum given Elon’s business exposure in China.”
Trump’s Public Denial vs. Private Decision
Following the media leak, Trump publicly dismissed the reports as false, calling them “fake news” on Truth Social.
However, Axios reports that the cancellation had already been quietly ordered by Trump before his public denial.
Despite the change, Musk still appeared at the Pentagon the next day for a scaled-down discussion — with no classified material or mention of China on the agenda.
Later, when asked by reporters, Trump admitted his concerns: “Elon has businesses in China. He could be vulnerable.”
Musk Responds, Leak Fallout Grows
In response, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the leak and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
“I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information,” he wrote.
The fallout continued as Defense Secretary Hegseth reportedly suspended two Pentagon officials — Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick — while the leak investigation expanded to include other disclosures about military operations in Ukraine, the Red Sea, and the Panama Canal.
What It Means Going Forward
The incident highlights the complicated relationship between business leaders and national security in an era where billionaires like Musk play increasingly influential roles.
While Trump may still respect Musk’s innovations, this episode underscores the delicate line between private enterprise and classified state matters — especially when foreign interests are in play.
