President Donald Trump on Friday said that he would not want to show billionaire Elon Musk American plans for a potential war with China because he might be "susceptible" to influence from the Chinese government.
While addressing reporters, Trump was asked why he would be reluctant to share the plans with Musk, who has extensive business dealings with China.
Trump began by saying that he wouldn't want to let anyone see America's war plans with China but then drilled down into potential specific reasons why Musk in particular should not see them.
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"Certainly you wouldn't show it to a businessman who is helping us so much, he's a great patriot, he's paying a big price for helping us cut costs, he's doing a great job, he's finding tremendous waste, fraud, and abuse, but I certainly wouldn't want Elon, you know, has businesses in China and we would be susceptible, perhaps to that," Trump said.
The New York Times reported on Thursday night that the Pentagon was preparing to brief Musk on its top-secret war plans despite the fact that he does not serve in any official national security capacity.
Musk and Trump both denied the Times' reporting, although it was then subsequently confirmed by the Wall Street Journal.
Watch the video below or at this link.
Trump on why he doesn't want to show Elon Musk war plans for China: "Certainly you wouldn't to a businessman who is helping us so much ... Elon has businesses in China. And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that."
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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 21, 2025 at 12:01 PM