Trump denies Pentagon disclosed China war plans to Musk
Donald Trump announced on Friday, "We don't want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you, if we did, we're very well equipped to handle it." When asked about reports that the Pentagon had informed Elon Musk about the US military's plan for a potential conflict with that country, he said it was a false story.
According to information reported on Thursday by The New York Times, the Pentagon was supposed to inform Elon Musk on Friday about the US military's plan for a potential conflict with China.
The New York Times noted that granting Musk access to the nation’s top military secrets would significantly broaden his already prominent position as an advisor to President Trump and as a central figure in pushing for budget cuts and efforts to remove opposition within the government.
"If it comes to war, we are prepared"
During Friday's conference Donald Trump, when asked by journalists, commented on these reports. - We don't want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you, if we did, we're very well equipped to handle it - he stated initially.
Shortly after, referring to Elon Musk, he announced that he would not want to share such information with him.
- I don't want to show that to anybody. But certainly you wouldn't show it to a businessman, who is helping us so much- said the US president, assessing that Musk "is a great patriot."
Trump, who appointed Musk as the head of DOGE—a newly established government body focused on reducing excessive spending—remarked that Musk had made significant personal sacrifices in the name of cost-cutting and was performing exceptionally well in identifying widespread waste, fraud, and abuse. He also acknowledged that Musk has business ties in China, which could influence his perspective on related matters.
Trump and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the New York Times reports about Elon Musk. During the conference, the US president additionally stated that it was a "false story" and that "the @nytimes story is a Fake, just like the 'paper' itself."
