U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcomes Elon Musk as a visitor to the
Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. March 21, 2025. DOD/U.S. Air Force Senior
Airman Madelyn Keech/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase
Licensing Rights
WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met
billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon on Wednesday, officials said, the second
known time the close ally of President Donald Trump has visited the department’s
headquarters.
In March, Musk, whose businesses have a number of Defense Department
contracts, was granted an unprecedented top-level meeting at the Pentagon.
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“The Secretary met with Elon Musk and other members of the X Al team this
morning,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.
“The Department of Defense is committed to engaging with Al industry CEOs to
ensure our warfighters are equipped to face 21st century threats,” Parnell added.
The meeting was first reported by Reuters.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hegseth’s pastor, Brooks Potteiger, had said on X: “It’s not
everyday you walk past Elon Musk en route to preach.” Potteiger spoke at
a Christian prayer service at the Pentagon on Wednesday.
Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ahead of his first meeting in March, there was a media report that Musk would be
briefed on secret war plans for China, something Musk, Trump and others denied.
Musk, at the time, called the report “pure propaganda” and urged legal action
against leakers.
Musk’s businesses Starlink and SpaceX already have a number of Pentagon
contracts, raising questions about conflicts of interest as he advocates for
innovation and re-prioritization of Pentagon spending to find efficiencies.
Trump’s planned Golden Dome missile defense shield, which would require
hundreds of sensors and other satellites to keep watch for incoming ballistic
missiles, would be a natural fit for SpaceX and its Starlink unit.
The opportunities for his companies, SpaceX in particular, under Trump could
drive billions of dollars of revenue to his firms.
The White House has previously said Musk will recuse himself if any conflicts of
interest arise between his business dealings and his role in cutting federal
government spending.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has made cuts across the U.S.
government, including at the Pentagon.
Musk said on Tuesday he will cut his political spending substantially, the latest
public signal that he is shifting his attention back to his business empire amid
growing investor concerns.
