‘With Elon and DOGE, we ensure US military remains world’s strongest power’: Hegseth on Musk’s Pentagon visit

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth met with tech big and division of presidency effectivity (DOGE) head Elon Musk on the Pentagon to debate methods to enhance innovation, effectivity, and manufacturing within the military.
After the assembly, Hegseth referred to as Musk a “patriot” and highlighted their shared aim of strengthening the US military.
He later shared on social media, “Amazing visit with Elon Musk at the Pentagon today. He is a patriot, and I look forward to continuing our work together. With Elon and Doge, we are ensuring our military continues to be the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.”

Musk’s visit to the Pentagon sparked controversy after some US media experiences instructed he would obtain a briefing on potential battle methods in opposition to China. However, these claims have been dismissed by each US President Donald Trump and Hegseth, with Trump calling the experiences “absurd” and “entirely untrue.”
“China will not even be mentioned or discussed,” Trump stated, accusing The New York Times of fabricating the story. Musk, for his half, demanded the prosecution of officers he alleged had leaked “maliciously false information” to the media.
The assembly, which lasted simply over an hour, coated varied subjects associated to military development.
Hegseth dismissed the China battle claims, stating, “This is NOT a meeting about ‘top secret China war plans.’ It’s an informal discussion on innovation, efficiencies, and smarter production.”
Musk’s enterprise ties to China, together with Tesla’s Shanghai amenities and SpaceX’s Pentagon contracts, have raised issues in some circles. Trump acknowledged these issues, saying, “You wouldn’t share that with a businessman.” However, he additionally clarified that Musk was there for Doge reasonably than China.
“He’s there for Doge, not China — and if you brought up China, I think he’d leave the room,” Trump informed reporters within the Oval Office.
Regarding Friday’s assembly, the tech mogul stored his response temporary, telling reporters, “It’s always a great meeting.” Musk has beforehand visited the Pentagon, together with his final recorded visit in 2016 when he met then-defence secretary Ash Carter.