- Friday's visit to Elon Musk in the Pentagon He drew criticism and emphasized the legacy of his society to the federal government and China. A rocket company of a billionaire SpaceX He has contractual contracts with the federal government of $ 22 billion. In China, Musk Tesla It runs its largest factory, Gigafactory Shanghai, who has produced about half of all Tesla vehicles since last year.
Elon Musk visited the Pentagon on a briefing on China on Friday, underlining the constantly growing influence of a billionaire in Trump's administration, as well as the deep ties of his business on the federal government and China.
Musk was originally supposed to receive a briefing of top secret information concerning the potential war with China, The New York Times reportedAlthough the defense officials later said they would receive an unclassified briefing, according to Wall Street Journal. Minister of Defense Pete Hegset and President Trump both denied that Musk had visited the Pentagon to receive a top secret information about a possible war with China, as stated in Times Before Musk's visit on Friday.
Than reporters in an oval office, Trump noted that Musk would not see the top secret information about the potential war with China and mentioned That billionaire companies could play a role.
“We don't want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you if we have done it, we are very well equipped to do it, but I don't want to show it to anyone, but you wouldn't show it to entrepreneurs,” Trump said. “Elon has businesses in China and he would be prone to that.”
Any information he received (replied “Why should I tell you?” Asked by the reporter about the subject of the meeting), the potential nature of his visit to the Pentagon at a high level carried out control.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (dn.y), who is also a head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote in the post that Musk should not have been in the Pentagon.
“Elon Musk is an unleashed billionaire with his own interest without business nowhere near the Pentagon,” wrote Gillibrand VA post Na X.
It is not clear whether other defensive companies would file a lawsuit based on Musk's approach, but although it is dubious that they would win in court, Professor of Law to Western Reserve University Anat-Beck said.
“No one promised equal access to this type of information,” Alon-Beck said. Luck. “We always had people – also with previous administrations – access to others and others who don't. So it's not just a musk.”
Yet, Muska's companies have deep links to China. Its manufacturer EV Tesla sells vehicles in the country for decades and Musk often spoke positive about Earth. In 2023, during a sound interview with US lawmakers on his Social Media X, the CEO said he was “Pro-Chinese”.
“I have some interests in China, but honestly, I think China is underestimated and I think people from China are really amazing and there is a lot of positive energy,” said at that time.
His “proven interests” and involvement in China include the following:
- The largest Tesla factory, Gigafactory Shanghai, is located in China. Half of the teste vehicles around the world have been made there as last year.
- Despite the recent 49% Drop DropChina is still one of Tesla's greatest markets
- The Chinese government allegedly 'assurance“That Musk wouldn't sell Starlink in China, Financial times reported. Musk last year told companies that produce Starlink components on Tai -wan to move production to other countries for “Geopolitical fears”
In the US, SpaceX is the main government supplier with approximately $ 22 billion in government contracts, According to its CEO. His subsidiary Starlink helps the Pentagon to provide Internet access in remote environments.
According to ALLA, Tesla received $ 11.4 billion from federal and state governments, according to a Washington post analysis. Muskovy companies in the amount of $ 38 billion have received cumulatively by government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax loans that have been returning 20 years, The Post reported.
This story was originally listed on Fortune.com
