Trump admits Musk ‘susceptible’ on China amid secret war plan row

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Friday denied reports that Elon Musk would see top secret US plans for a possible war with China, saying that his billionaire ally´s links with Beijing raised potential conflicts of interest.

The rare acknowledgment of Musk´s dueling roles in business and government came as Trump pushed back against media reports saying the Space X and Tesla owner would receive a Pentagon briefing on its China strategy.

The reports fanned concern about the influence of the world´s richest man in the White House as an unelected, South African-born tycoon who has become Trump´s closest adviser. Musk did visit the Pentagon on Friday, but Trump insisted he was “there for DOGE, not for China” -- referring to Musk´s Department for Government Efficiency, which is expanding its cost-cutting drive to the defence department.

“I don´t want to show it to anybody. You´re talking about a potential war with China,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the possibility of sharing the war plan with Musk. “Certainly you wouldn´t show it to a businessman... Elon has businesses in China and he would be susceptible perhaps to that.”

Musk´s automaker Tesla produces some of its electric vehicles at a huge so-called gigafactory in Shanghai and is trying to compete with fast-growing Chinese manufacturers. The entrepreneur has become a cult figure in China and has fostered ties with its leadership. He has also caused controversy by suggesting the self-ruled island of Taiwan should become part of China.