Elon Musk Holds High-Level Pentagon Talks, Demands Prosecution Of Leakers

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk took a bold step on Friday by engaging in an unprecedented high-level meeting at the Pentagon. His discussions revolved around national security concerns and the need to curb unauthorized leaks from federal agencies.

Musk Pushes for Legal Action Against Defense Department Leakers

Musk, whose businesses hold multiple contracts with the U.S. Defense Department, called for the prosecution of officials leaking what he termed as “maliciously false information” regarding his Pentagon visit. The high-stakes meeting, which reportedly lasted 80 minutes, was held with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking Musk’s first such interaction with the defense leadership.

At the time of this report, it remained unclear whether top U.S. generals attended the meeting virtually. However, the discussion was of significant interest, especially following speculations surrounding military strategies concerning China.

Denial of Secret Military Briefing on China

A report from The New York Times suggested that Musk would receive classified briefings about U.S. war strategies involving China. However, both Musk and former President Donald Trump refuted these claims. Musk dismissed the report as “pure propaganda” and called for legal action against those responsible for leaking misleading information.

“I anticipate the prosecution of Pentagon officials responsible for spreading false and damaging leaks to The New York Times. They will be identified,” Musk stated in a post on X before attending the Pentagon meeting.

Calls for National Security Leak Investigation

A spokesperson from The New York Times defended journalistic integrity, arguing that leak investigations often discourage communication between journalists and their sources, thereby restricting press freedom.

Later on Friday, Hegseth’s chief of staff issued an internal memo emphasizing the need for an in-depth investigation into unauthorized disclosures of classified national security details. The memo also proposed the potential implementation of polygraph tests to identify those responsible for the leaks.

Trump Comments on Musk’s Role and Potential Conflict of Interest

Following the meeting, Trump addressed the media at the White House, stating that he would not authorize the disclosure of U.S. military strategies to anyone, including business leaders like Musk.

“I have no intention of revealing U.S. plans regarding a potential war with China. However, we must acknowledge that Elon Musk has significant business interests in China, which could make him vulnerable in such matters,” Trump remarked.

External Source:

For more insights on national security and governmental transparency, visit The Brookings Institution, a highly reputable source on public policy and defense strategies.