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Elon Musk Meets Defense Secretary Hegseth at Pentagon to Advance AI in U.S. Military

The May 21 meeting focused on leveraging AI for modern defense while addressing conflict-of-interest concerns tied to Musk’s business ties with the Pentagon.

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
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Overview

  • Elon Musk's second visit to the Pentagon on May 21 included discussions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the X AI team.
  • The Department of Defense emphasized collaboration with AI industry leaders to prepare U.S. warfighters for 21st-century challenges.
  • Musk's companies, SpaceX and Starlink, hold multiple Pentagon contracts, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
  • The White House reiterated that Musk will recuse himself from decisions involving his business interests to ensure transparency.
  • Earlier media claims of Musk being briefed on classified war plans for China were denied by Musk, Trump, and Pentagon officials.