A top-secret Pentagon meeting meant to brief Elon Musk on the United States’ military plans in the event of war with China was suddenly shut down — and it turns out the order came straight from Donald Trump himself.
According to an explosive report from Axios, the classified meeting was derailed after The New York Times leaked its existence on March 20, triggering an intense wave of backlash inside the White House.
Musk, who had been invited to receive information far beyond his clearance level, found himself at the center of a major controversy.
Trump, furious behind closed doors, reportedly barked to his staff:
“What the f**k is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn’t go,” Trump said, according to Axios.
The secret China briefing that wasn’t
Originally, Musk was set to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Pentagon officials for a sensitive national security briefing that would outline how the U.S. might engage in conflict with China.
But the plan raised red flags inside the administration, especially given Musk’s deep financial ties to China through Tesla — an issue that has long made officials uneasy. While Musk is a key defense contractor via SpaceX, his unique straddle between American military contracts and Chinese business interests caused alarm.
“POTUS still very much loves Elon,” one official told Axios, “but there are some red lines. Elon has a lot of business in China and he has good relations there, and this briefing just wasn’t the right thing.”
Trump’s public denial — but private fury
After the Times leak, Trump publicly dismissed the story as “fake news,” posting on Truth Social late at night:
“They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential ‘war with China.’ How ridiculous? … The story is completely untrue!!!”