A heated confrontation between President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk has sparked controversy in Washington's political circles.
According to Daily Mail Online, Trump personally intervened to prevent Musk from attending a classified government briefing about China after the Tesla CEO's presence provoked concern among White House officials.
The incident led to the suspension of two senior Pentagon officials, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, who were removed from their positions by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following an investigation into who leaked information about the briefing to Musk.
The president's decision came amid growing tensions over Musk's extensive business interests in China, particularly Tesla's Gigafactory Shanghai, which produced approximately half of all Tesla vehicles last year.
Trump reportedly erupted in anger upon learning of Musk's planned attendance at the briefing. A top official revealed the president's forceful response to staff. Trump said: "What the f**k is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn't go."
The president's reaction stemmed from concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given Musk's significant business ties to China through Tesla's operations. Despite Trump's previous support for Musk's involvement in government matters, the administration drew a clear line regarding sensitive information about China.
Musk's position as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has come under scrutiny as White House officials express growing frustration with his frequent presence and controversial social media activity. The Tesla CEO's involvement in government affairs was supposed to exclude areas where he might have conflicts of interest, according to Trump's earlier pledges.
The New York Times initially reported on March 20 that Musk would receive a briefing about U.S. military plans regarding potential conflict with China. Trump swiftly denied this on Truth Social, insisting China would not be discussed at the meeting. Sources later revealed this denial came after the president had already ordered officials to exclude Musk from China-related discussions.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating trade tensions between the United States and China. Trump recently implemented a dramatic 125 percent tariff on Chinese imports, combined with a 20 percent fentanyl-related levy, bringing the total effective rate to 145 percent. China retaliated by raising its tariffs on U.S. goods from 84 percent to 125 percent.
Despite the controversy, Musk still attended a modified version of the Pentagon meeting on March 21, meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for 80 minutes. When questioned about the meeting's contents, Musk deflected, responding tersely to reporters.
Trump later addressed the situation at the White House, emphasizing the sensitivity of military planning information. He specifically highlighted the risks of sharing such details with business leaders having significant interests in China.
The controversial briefing incident has exposed growing rifts between Trump's administration and Musk's expanding influence in government affairs. While Musk remains head of DOGE and maintains ties to the administration, his role faces increased scrutiny over potential conflicts with his business interests, particularly concerning China.
The Pentagon officials' suspension and ongoing investigations into the leaked information demonstrate the serious nature of the security breach. The incident highlights the delicate balance between private sector involvement in government affairs and national security concerns, especially regarding relations with China.
