US defence secretary Pete Hegseth met with tech big and division of presidency effectivity (DOGE) head Elon Musk on the Pentagon to debate methods to enhance innovation, effectivity, and manufacturing within the army.
After the assembly, Hegseth referred to as Musk a “patriot” and highlighted their shared aim of strengthening the US army.
He later shared on social media, “Superb go to with Elon Musk on the Pentagon in the present day. He’s a patriot, and I sit up for persevering with our work collectively. With Elon and Doge, we’re guaranteeing our army continues to be the best preventing pressure the world has ever identified.”
Musk’s go to to the Pentagon sparked controversy after some US media reviews urged he would obtain a briefing on potential conflict methods towards China. Nonetheless, these claims have been dismissed by each US President Donald Trump and Hegseth, with Trump calling the reviews “absurd” and “completely unfaithful.”
“China won’t even be talked about or mentioned,” Trump stated, accusing The New York Occasions of fabricating the story. Musk, for his half, demanded the prosecution of officers he alleged had leaked “maliciously false data” to the media.
The assembly, which lasted simply over an hour, coated numerous matters associated to army development.
Hegseth dismissed the China conflict claims, stating, “That is NOT a gathering about ‘high secret China conflict plans.’ It’s a casual dialogue on innovation, efficiencies, and smarter manufacturing.”
Musk’s enterprise ties to China, together with Tesla’s Shanghai amenities and SpaceX’s Pentagon contracts, have raised issues in some circles. Trump acknowledged these issues, saying, “You wouldn’t share that with a businessman.” Nonetheless, he additionally clarified that Musk was there for Doge slightly than China.
“He’s there for Doge, not China — and in case you introduced up China, I feel he’d go away the room,” Trump informed reporters within the Oval Workplace.
Relating to Friday’s assembly, the tech mogul stored his response temporary, telling reporters, “It’s all the time an incredible assembly.” Musk has beforehand visited the Pentagon, along with his final recorded go to in 2016 when he met then-defence secretary Ash Carter.
