Elon Musk Will Be Briefed on U.S. Military’s Secret Plan for Potential War with China: Reports

Elon Musk will reportedly attend a briefing at the Pentagon on Friday, March 21, to be briefed on the U.S. military’s secret plan for a potential war with China, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, March 20.

The Times and Journal cited two U.S. officials. Another official told the Times the briefing would be focused on China, but provided no additional details. A fourth official told theTimes Musk, an official advisor to President Donald Trump, would be at the Pentagon on Friday, but did not specify why. 

One of the officials who spoke with the Journal said Musk is being given the briefing “because he asked for one.”

“The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and is just visiting,” Sean Parnell, the chief Defense Department spokesman, told the Times in a statement after its initial report was published. A White House spokesman did not answer the Times’ email request for comment.

In a statement on X, Hegseth denied Musk would be shown “top secret” plans, adding, “It’s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.”

PEOPLE also reached out to the Department of Defense but did not immediately hear back.

The Pentagon’s war plans are considered some of the military’s most guarded secrets. According to officials with knowledge of the plan for a potential war with China who spoke to the Times, the plan includes 20 to 30 slides that explain how the U.S. would fight China’s military. 

Officials told the Times that Hegseth will present the China plans to Musk alongside Adm. Christopher W. Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, head of the military’s Indo-Pacific Command. Hegseth himself received part of the plan during a briefing last week and another part on Wednesday, March 19, officials told the outlet. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

It is unclear how much of the plan Musk will need to see or why he would receive such a briefing of sensitive plans when he is not in the military chain of command, notes the Times. His role as an official advisor to Trump also does not involve military matters with China.

The meeting could raise questions of a conflict of interest for Musk, who is still the chief executive of SpaceX and Tesla, even as he leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk, who also has business interests in China, has commented on military acquisitions in the past. In November, he suggested the Pentagon stop buying manned fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.

Musk did not publicly address the reports on X Thursday night. He did post about the SpaceX program, attacks on Tesla vehicles, and Trump’s efforts to dismantle of the Department of Education.