Gone out of control? Elon Musk threatens Pentagon leakers after reports he’ll get top secret briefing on U.S war plans for China; Donald Trump intervenes

Billionaire Elon Musk has threatened to hold a trial against Pentagon staff who have leaked "false information" to the American press that claimed Musk would be given a highly classified Pentagon briefing on US military plans for any potential war against China, as per reports.

What Was the False Story?

The New York Times first reported that Musk would be briefed on America's military strategies, citing two anonymous US officials, as per NBC News. The NYT report also stated that the briefing would feature 20 to 30 slides on how the US would retaliate in the event of a war with China, as per the Independent.

Elon Musk’s Reaction

But the tale soon turned dramatic when Musk went on his social media site, X, to criticize the New York Times, describing the report as "pure propaganda," as per Newsweek. Musk was not just angry at the coverage but also at the Pentagon officials he blamed for leaking false information to the press. He threatened legal action saying, " I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found," as quoted by Newsweek.

Another Report

As the news spread, The Wall Street Journal also reported that Musk was also going to get a "top-secret" briefing on US war strategy against China, citing anonymous officials, reported Newsweek.

Donald Trump Claims the Reports are "Fake News"

Then, even US president Donald Trump intervened and strongly rejected the reports. On his Truth Social site, Trump labelled the New York Times report "fake news" and criticized the proposal of Musk getting a briefing on war plans against China, as per the Newsweek report.

Trump wrote, "They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China.' How ridiculous?" China will not even be mentioned or discussed," as quoted by Newsweek.

The US president also added that, "How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!" quoted Newsweek.

Pentagon Clarifies Musk’s Visit

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also wrote on social media platform X to explain the reason for Musk's visit. He claimed, "This is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war plans.' It's an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great!" quoted Newsweek.

Even chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted a screenshot of the New York Times report on X, saying, "This is 100% Fake News. Just brazenly & maliciously wrong. Elon Musk is a patriot. We are proud to have him at the Pentagon," as quoted in the report.

FAQs

Why did Elon Musk threaten Pentagon staff?
Musk threatened legal action against Pentagon staff for leaking “false information” to the media about his Pentagon visit and the briefing.

What did Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth say about Musk’s visit?
Hegseth clarified that Musk’s visit was not about China's war plans but rather an informal discussion about innovation and smarter production.