- Friday visit to Eileon Musk to the Pentagon Draw criticism and the most prominent links of his companies in both the federal and China government. Billionaire missile company Spacex He has $ 22 billion in contracts with the federal government. In China, musk Timing It runs its largest factory, Gigafactory Shanghai, which last year produced about half of the Tesla vehicles.
On Friday, Elon Musk visited a briefing on China, which emphasized the steady impact of billionaire in the Trump administration as well as his deep business relations with the federal government and China.
Musk was originally supposed to obtain a briefing on the higher secret information related to a potential war with China, New York Times I mentionedAlthough defense officials later said that he would receive an unknown briefing, according to Wall Street Journal. Defense Minister Beit Higseth and President Trump denied to visit the Pentagon Musk to receive higher information about a possible war with China, as I mentioned before Times Before visiting Musk on Friday.
Before correspondents at the Oval Office, Trump indicated that Musk will not see secret information about a possible war with China, and Mentioned The billionaire works can play a role.
“We do not want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you if we do that, we are very equipped to deal with it, but I do not want to make it clear to anyone, but you will certainly not expose it to a businessman,” Trump said. “Elon has works in China and will be vulnerable to it.”
Whatever the information he received (answered “Why should I tell you?” To ask the reporter on the topic of the meeting), a high -level potential nature of his visit in the Pentagon was drawn.
Senator Kirsten Gilbrand (DN.Y.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote that he should not be Musk in the Pentagon.
Gilbrand wrote in A. mail On x.
It is not clear whether other defense companies will file lawsuits upon the arrival of musk, but even if they do so, it is doubtful to prevail in court.
“No one promised to equate access to this type of information,” Alon Beck said luck. “We have always had people – with previous administrations as well – from reaching others who do not do it. So it’s not only about musk.”
However, Musk companies have profound relationships in China. The EV Tesla maker sold vehicles in the country for a decade and often the musk has offended positively from the country. In 2023, during an audio interview with American lawmakers on the social media network X, the CEO said he was “a supporter of religion.”
“I have some interests gained in China, but frankly, I think China has been underestimated and I think the people of China are really wonderful and there is a lot of positive energy there,” He said at that time.
Among his “acquired interests” and China’s involvement is the following:
- Located in China. Half Tesla compounds were made in the world there as of last year.
- Despite the conversation 49 % decrease in delivery operationsChina is still one of the largest markets of Tesla behind the United States
- It is said that the Chinese government has.Request assurances“This musk will not sell Starlink in China, Financial times I mentioned. MUSK last year told companies that make Starlink components in Taiwan to transfer manufacture to other countries because of “” “Geopolitical concerns“
In the United States, Spacex is a major government contractor with about $ 22 billion in government contracts, According to its executive director. Starlink helps its Pentagon to provide access to the Internet in remote environments.
On its part, Tesla received $ 11.4 billion of regulatory credits from federal governments and state governments, according to Washington Post analysis. Cutting, Musk companies have received $ 38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits dating back to 20 years, mail I mentioned.
This story was originally shown on Fortune.com
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