The president acknowledged that certain limitations would be imposed on his wealthy associate if a conflict arises.
Donald Trump has made it clear that he will not disclose all information to his close ally, Elon Musk.
On Friday, March 21, President Trump stated that military strategies would be withheld from Musk due to the business interests of the Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder.
This revelation gives a rare glimpse into the dynamics between the administration and the world’s richest individual, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The insight implies that Trump has reservations about Musk balancing his corporate and governmental roles.
These statements were made during a meeting in the Oval Office where the President discussed the creation of a new fighter jet, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD), and awarded a significant contract to Boeing worth $20 billion to develop it.
The president dismissed notions that Musk would be briefed on strategies should the US engage in a theoretical war with China.
He remarked, “Elon has businesses in China. And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that.”
Time reports that Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, is looking to expand its operations and sales within China.
Amidst growing concerns about the possibility of World War 3, the topic of war was discussed, with nations like China, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea reportedly increasing their nuclear arsenals.
In the meantime, Taiwan’s president and leading chipmaker at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) disclosed plans to invest $100 billion in the United States, a move some critics see as a ‘protection fee’ due to Taiwan’s own tensions with China.
This doesn’t take into account the continuous hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
Even though Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to a 30-day ceasefire following discussions with the US president, there is a prevailing concern in Europe about a potential ‘unthinkable’ Russian attack.
Trump has previously dismissed questions regarding potential conflicts of interest involving Musk, who visited the Pentagon on Friday to discuss further DOGE reductions in federal government expenditure.
A senior defense official reported on Tuesday that the Defense Department plans to eliminate approximately 50,000 to 60,000 civilian positions.
After the meeting, Musk expressed his willingness to do ‘anything that could be helpful’.
Regarding the new fighter jet, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General David Allvin, the US Air Force chief of staff, announced it would be called the F-47, representing ‘the next generation of modern aerial warfare.’
Hegseth emphasized that the new fleet ‘sends a very clear, direct message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere, and to our enemies that we will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come’.