President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is “very well-equipped to handle” a potential war with China, while firmly denying reports that Elon Musk was briefed on related military strategies.
Trump made the remarks following questions about Musk’s recent visit to the Pentagon and reports suggesting the Tesla and SpaceX CEO would be briefed on possible war scenarios involving China.
“I don’t want anybody seeing potential war with China,” Trump said on Friday. “We don’t want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you if we did, we’re very well-equipped to handle it.”
Trump dismissed the idea that Musk would be involved in such briefings, calling the reports “such a fake story.”
He emphasized that while Musk has played a significant role in reducing government costs and exposing waste, fraud, and abuse, military secrets should not be shared with a businessman.
“Certainly you wouldn’t show it to a businessman who is helping us so much,” Trump added. “He’s a great patriot… but Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible perhaps to that.”
Musk’s Pentagon Visit
Musk’s visit to the Pentagon on Friday included an 80-minute meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While The New York Times reported that Musk was set to attend a classified briefing on U.S. war plans with China, he instead met with Hegseth in his office.
Reports claimed the classified briefing was a 20 to 30-slide presentation that Hegseth partially received last week and again on Wednesday. Both Trump and Hegseth have since denied that Musk attended any such meeting.
Trump joked that Musk’s visit was unrelated to China, saying: “He’s there for DOGE, not there for China.”
As Musk left the Pentagon, he reportedly told Hegseth: “If there’s anything I can do to be helpful, I’d like to see you.”
China’s Response
Tensions between the U.S. and China have escalated following Trump’s decision to impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, raising total tariffs to 20%. In response, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. declared that China is “prepared for war” in various forms.
“If war is what the US wants — be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war — we’re ready to fight till the end,” the embassy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
With diplomatic strains rising, both nations appear to be bracing for further economic and political tension.
