Donald Trump lashed out at The New York Occasions over its report that Elon Musk can be briefed on categorized U.S. plans if conflict ought to escape with China.
Musk did go to the Pentagon right now, however Trump and different officers denied the report. Chatting with reporters within the Oval Workplace, Trump stated that “Elon wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t wish to put himself in that place.”
Musk has substantial enterprise pursuits in China, and the Occasions report raised additional alarm over his affect and potential conflicts of curiosity within the administration.
“They’ve pretend sources or they don’t have sources. I feel they make most of it up,” Trump stated of the Occasions. He additionally known as them the “enemy of the folks.”
A Occasions spokesperson didn’t instantly return a request for remark. However the Occasions has not backed away from its reporting. In its story posted on Thursday, with 5 bylines, it quoted two unnamed U.S. officers on the plans to temporary Musk on the conflict plans. It famous its preliminary response from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who advised them, “The Protection Division is worked up to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is simply visiting.” About an hour later, in accordance with the Occasions, Parnell posted on X that the story was “100% pretend information.”
The Wall Road Journal later reported that Musk can be briefed on the conflict plans, and up to date its story to mirror Trump’s assertion that he wouldn’t. However the Journal additionally caught by its story that Musk was to obtain a high secret briefing.
On X, Musk known as the Occasions “pure propaganda,” and wrote, “I stay up for the prosecutions of these on the Pentagon who’re leaking maliciously false info to NYT.”
Within the Oval Workplace, Trump prolonged his media assaults to CNN and MSNBC, as he has finished earlier than.
“Now we have made such massive strides over the previous two months, and we simply want trustworthy journalism, and we don’t have it,” Trump stated. He claimed that CNN and MSNBC had been “each doing horribly within the scores. I feel they’ll be turned off.” Final week, Trump known as CNN and MSNBC “unlawful” for reporting negatively about him.
