In a development that has raised concerns around national security and conflict of interest, the US Department of Defense is set to brief Elon Musk on plans for a potential war with China, according to The New York Times.
Musk, the world’s richest man, has emerged as the most powerful politician in the United States next only to President Donald Trump. After bankrolling his 2024 election campaign, Musk joined the administration. Initially, he was said to be the head of Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), but his exact formal role and decision-making powers remain uncertain even as he has practically seized control of the US government.
The Times has reported that Musk will be briefed about US plans for a war with China by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top US generals on Friday.
Musk has no formal national security- or military-related role in the US government. The access to the nation’s top secret war plans would be an extraordinary boost to his power which is already without a parallel at least in the living memory. Instead, he has deep conflicts of interests as the owner of SpaceX, which receives several billions annually in defence contracts. The company is so well integrated with the Defense Department that China has dubbed it as an extension of the US military.
While the Pentagon did not confirm that the visit would include a briefing on top-secret plans, it confirmed that Musk would indeed be visiting.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/world/pentagon-to-brief-musk-on-top-secret-war-plans-for-china-report-13873227.html.
