Washington: Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk made an unprecedented visit to the Pentagon on Friday, engaging in a high-level discussion with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The meeting, which lasted 80 minutes, marked Musk’s first direct talks at the Pentagon, where he advocated for increased scrutiny over leaks of sensitive information. He also called for the prosecution of Defense Department officials accused of spreading “maliciously false information” about his visit.
Musk, whose companies SpaceX and Starlink hold multiple Pentagon contracts, met with Hegseth in a private setting. While reports initially suggested that U.S. military generals might join the discussion virtually, no confirmation was provided.
The New York Times previously reported that Musk would receive a briefing on classified U.S. military strategies regarding China, a claim strongly denied by Musk, former President Donald Trump, and other officials. Calling the report “pure propaganda”, Musk demanded legal action against those responsible for the leaks.
“I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found,” Musk posted on X before his meeting with Hegseth.
The New York Times is pure propaganda.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 21, 2025
Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT.
They will be found. pic.twitter.com/xANvLMOH5j
In response, a spokesperson for The New York Times defended the press’s role in uncovering critical information, stating that leak investigations could “chill communications between journalists and their sources and undermine the ability of a free press to bring out vital information that may otherwise be hidden.”
Following the meeting, Hegseth’s chief of staff issued a memo ordering an investigation into “unauthorized disclosures of national security information,” potentially involving the use of polygraph tests to determine the source of the leaks.
Elon Musk held a top-level meeting at the Pentagon and called for the prosecution of any Defense Department officials leaking 'maliciously false information' about his visit https://t.co/MQE173tjv2 pic.twitter.com/X1OKJDfTDm
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 22, 2025
Trump Denies War Plan Briefing, Questions Musk’s Business Ties
At a press briefing following the Pentagon meeting, Trump dismissed any notion that U.S. war plans for China had been shared with Musk. He also hinted at Musk’s potential conflicts of interest due to his business operations in China.
“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,” Trump said. “Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that.”
Standing beside Trump, Hegseth reiterated that Musk had not been privy to any classified discussions.
“There were no war plans, no Chinese war plans. There were no secret plans,” Hegseth confirmed.
Scrapped Meeting in the Pentagon’s Secure War Room
The controversy surrounding the New York Times report led to the cancellation of a planned meeting between Musk and the Joint Chiefs of Staff inside “The Tank,” the Pentagon’s secure war room. If the meeting had proceeded, it could have signified an expanded advisory role for Musk in defense strategy, raising further questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Musk’s growing influence within the Pentagon comes amid speculation that his companies could benefit significantly from Trump’s defense initiatives. SpaceX and Starlink stand to gain billions in potential contracts, particularly with Trump’s proposed Golden Dome missile defense shield. The ambitious project would require hundreds of sensors and satellites—areas where SpaceX is already a dominant force.
Democrats Demand Transparency on Musk’s Access
Concerns over Musk’s Pentagon involvement have prompted pushback from Democratic lawmakers. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to Hegseth, demanding clarity on what information was shared with Musk and questioning the rationale behind granting him access to sensitive defense discussions.
“There is no legitimate national security or other rationale for providing this information to Mr. Musk,” the senators wrote.
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The White House has previously stated that Musk would recuse himself from any discussions that posed a conflict of interest between his business dealings and government advisory role.
Ongoing Leak Investigations
Musk’s call for prosecuting Pentagon leakers aligns with broader efforts within the U.S. intelligence community to curb unauthorized disclosures. Last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard launched an investigation into leaks from within intelligence agencies, scrutinizing internal chat rooms for potential misconduct.
During Trump’s first term, his administration aggressively pursued leak investigations, referring more cases for criminal prosecution annually than any previous administration in the past 15 years. According to records released in 2021 by the Justice Department, the administration’s focus on leak prosecutions intensified efforts to control sensitive disclosures.
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Musk, who arrived at the Pentagon in a motorcade, was seen leaving the meeting in good spirits, joking with Hegseth and expressing optimism about their discussions.
“If there’s anything I can do to be helpful, I would like us to have a good outcome here,” Musk remarked as he departed.
