After Controversy Over His Pentagon Visit, Musk Vows to Track Down Officials Behind Leak

Elon Musk has issued a stern warning to Pentagon employees who may have leaked information suggesting he was set to receive a classified briefing on a potential war between the U.S. and China.

The controversy erupted after The New York Times reported on Thursday evening that the Pentagon planned to brief Musk on U.S. military strategies in the event of a conflict with China. Citing unnamed American officials, the report suggested that the billionaire’s influence within the Trump administration was expanding into military affairs.

Trump and Pentagon deny China war plans were on the agenda

Following the publication of the article, both the Pentagon and President Trump confirmed that Musk was indeed scheduled for a meeting on Friday. However, they strongly denied that discussions would involve military strategies related to China.

“China will not even be mentioned or discussed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!”

Musk blasts NYT and threatens those behind the leak

Musk quickly responded by reposting Trump’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling The New York Times “pure propaganda.” He went a step further by directly threatening Pentagon officials who may have provided information to the media.

“I look forward to the prosecution of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT,” Musk wrote. “They will be found.”

His comments mark an escalation in tensions between the administration, the military, and the media, particularly as questions swirl about Musk’s deepening ties to government decision-making.

Concerns over Musk’s expanding influence

The New York Times report that triggered the backlash highlighted concerns over Musk’s growing role in federal affairs. As the CEO of companies like SpaceX—a key government contractor—Musk already wields significant influence in defense and space technology. His involvement in a high-level Pentagon briefing raises fresh concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly given Tesla’s business ties with China.

Despite the administration’s denials, the incident has intensified scrutiny of Musk’s political and business connections, as well as the extent of his access to national security discussions. Whether any Pentagon employees will face consequences for the alleged leaks remains to be seen.