US defence secretary Pete Hegseth met with tech giant and department of government efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk at the Pentagon to discuss ways to improve innovation, efficiency, and production in the military.
After the meeting, Hegseth called Musk a “patriot” and highlighted their shared goal of strengthening the US military.
He later shared on social media, “Amazing visit with Elon Musk at the Pentagon today. He is a patriot, and I look forward to continuing our work together. With Elon and Doge, we are ensuring our military continues to be the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.”
Musk’s visit to the Pentagon sparked controversy after some US media reports suggested he would receive a briefing on potential war strategies against China. However, these claims were dismissed by both US President Donald Trump and Hegseth, with Trump calling the reports “absurd” and “entirely untrue.”
“China will not even be mentioned or discussed,” Trump said, accusing The New York Times of fabricating the story. Musk, for his part, demanded the prosecution of officials he alleged had leaked “maliciously false information” to the media.
The meeting, which lasted just over an hour, covered various topics related to military advancement.
Hegseth dismissed the China war claims, stating, “This is NOT a meeting about ‘top secret China war plans.’ It’s an informal discussion on innovation, efficiencies, and smarter production.”
Musk’s business ties to China, including Tesla’s Shanghai facilities and SpaceX’s Pentagon contracts, have raised concerns in some circles. Trump acknowledged these concerns, saying, “You wouldn’t share that with a businessman.” However, he also clarified that Musk was there for Doge rather than China.
“He’s there for Doge, not China — and if you brought up China, I think he’d leave the room,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Regarding Friday’s meeting, the tech mogul kept his response brief, telling reporters, “It’s always a great meeting.” Musk has previously visited the Pentagon, with his last recorded visit in 2016 when he met then-defence secretary Ash Carter.