Washington: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a meeting with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk at the Pentagon on Wednesday, marking the second known occasion the two have met at the Department of Defense headquarters, officials confirmed.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement, “The Secretary met with Elon Musk and other members of the X AI team this morning.” He added, “The Department of Defense is committed to engaging with AI industry CEOs to ensure our warfighters are equipped to face 21st century threats.”
This latest engagement between Musk and Hegseth follows a high-level meeting in March that drew considerable attention. Musk, who leads SpaceX and Starlink—both of which hold multiple Defense Department contracts—was previously granted rare top-level access to Pentagon officials.
The visit was first reported by Reuters.
Earlier in the day, Hegseth’s pastor, Brooks Potteiger, posted on X: “It’s not everyday you walk past Elon Musk en route to preach.” Potteiger was at the Pentagon to lead a Christian prayer service on Wednesday.
Musk has not publicly commented on his latest meeting at the Pentagon.
His earlier visit in March sparked controversy when a media outlet reported he was to be briefed on secret war plans related to China. Musk, former President Donald Trump, and others strongly refuted the claims. At the time, Musk described the report as “pure propaganda” and called for legal action against the individuals responsible for the leak.
Also Read | UK Judge Clears Chris Brown for World Tour After $6.7M Bail Deal
The ongoing relationship between Musk and the Pentagon has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, especially given Musk’s growing influence on defense-related innovation and spending reform. His firms, particularly SpaceX and its satellite division Starlink, are poised to benefit significantly from Pentagon initiatives.
One such initiative is Trump’s proposed Golden Dome missile defense system, which would rely on a vast network of satellites and sensors—an area where SpaceX holds technological and operational advantages. If implemented, the plan could generate billions of dollars in revenue for Musk’s companies.
Also Read | easyJet Reports Strong Summer Travel Demand, Confident of Hitting Profit Targets
The White House has previously stated that Musk would recuse himself from decisions in which any conflict between his business ventures and his government role might arise. Musk currently oversees the Department of Government Efficiency, which has enacted federal budget cuts, including reductions in Pentagon expenditures.
On Tuesday, Musk announced he would “substantially cut his political spending,” a move interpreted by analysts as a signal that he is refocusing on his business ventures amid concerns from investors about his political visibility.
