Musk was never briefed on China war plans at Pentagon meeting, Trump and Hegseth say

Trump told reporters Friday that Musk met with Pentagon officials to discuss initiatives relating to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that Musk is spearheading. 

"We don't want to have a potential war with China," Trump said at the Oval Office Friday. "But I can tell you if we did, we're very well-equipped to handle it. But 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. He's a great patriot. He's taken a big price for helping us cut costs, and he's doing a great job."

Musk and China could be a conflict of interest, given Tesla's business dealings with China and SpaceX's relationship with the Pentagon on military space capabilities. And an adversary like China learning details about the U.S. military's war plans could put national security at risk and undermine U.S. forces. 

"There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans," Hegseth said at the White House Friday. "There was no secret plans. That's not what we were doing at the Pentagon." 

Hegseth also announced plans Thursday to cancel more than $580 million in Department of Defense contracts, following recommendations from DOGE. 

The Times also reported the meeting would take place in the so-called Tank, a secure conference room reserved for the joint chiefs, senior staff and visiting combatant commanders. 

The White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump's remarks when asked for comment about the nature of Musk's briefing. 

Trump and Hegseth pushed back on the report Thursday, with Trump describing the report as "completely untrue." Hegseth also said in a post on X the meeting with Musk would primarily touch on innovation. 

In response to Hegseth's post, Musk responded, "Exactly. Also, I've been to the Pentagon many times over many years. Not my first time in the building." 

Musk also said in a separate post he looks "forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT."  

"They will be found," he said.