Steve Bannon , a prominent conservative commentator, claimed that “everything changed” for Elon Musk following President Donald Trump ’s public denial of a report suggesting Musk would receive a classified Pentagon briefing on potential U.S.-China conflict, as highlighted in an interview with The Atlantic. The report, initially published by The New York Times in March 2025, alleged that Musk was slated to be briefed on national security matters, including the possibility of war with China. This revelation sparked outrage among Democratic lawmakers, who raised concerns about national security risks and ethical conflicts due to Musk’s growing influence in Trump’s administration.
Critics, including several congressional Democrats, argued that Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ), a Trump-led initiative aimed at streamlining federal operations and reducing government size, gave him unprecedented power. Some lawmakers, as reported by Politico, expressed alarm over Musk’s access to sensitive information, citing his business ties with China through Tesla’s Shanghai factory and SpaceX’s global operations. They called for stricter oversight of private sector involvement in government, with Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeting, “No unelected billionaire should wield this much influence over national security.”
Donald Trump's Big Denial on Truth Social: Elon is not going to Pentagon
In response to the New York Times report, Trump took to Truth Social, dismissing it as “fake news” and stating, “Elon is not going to the Pentagon, and China will not even be mentioned.” Bannon, speaking on his War Room podcast, described this moment as when the “fever broke” for Musk, marking a shift in his public role. According to The Atlantic, Musk began quietly distancing himself from his high-profile work with DOGE, redirecting his focus to his private ventures—Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter.
Elon Musk is moving on, but DOGE stays
Musk confirmed this pivot in a post on Twitter, stating, “My priority is building the future with Tesla, SpaceX, and X. I’m stepping back from government involvement to focus on innovation.” He also announced a significant reduction in political donations, signaling a retreat from the political spotlight. Despite Musk’s withdrawal, DOGE remains active and DOGE employees will continue collaborating with Trump’s cabinet to advance the administration’s efficiency goals. "The mission of DOGE—to cut waste, fraud, and abuse -- will surely continue,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the publication in an email. “DOGE employees who onboarded at their respective agencies will continue to work with President Trump’s cabinet to make our government more efficient.” she reportedly added.
Elon Musk remains Donald Trump's Buddy No. 1
However, Musk’s ties to Trump have not entirely severed. In early May 2025, Musk accompanied Trump on a diplomatic trip to the Middle East, where they met with regional leaders, according to Reuters. Additionally, Musk was present during a White House meeting with Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, as noted in a Washington Post report, suggesting that Musk retains some advisory role, even if informal.
Critics, including several congressional Democrats, argued that Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ), a Trump-led initiative aimed at streamlining federal operations and reducing government size, gave him unprecedented power. Some lawmakers, as reported by Politico, expressed alarm over Musk’s access to sensitive information, citing his business ties with China through Tesla’s Shanghai factory and SpaceX’s global operations. They called for stricter oversight of private sector involvement in government, with Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeting, “No unelected billionaire should wield this much influence over national security.”
Donald Trump's Big Denial on Truth Social: Elon is not going to Pentagon
In response to the New York Times report, Trump took to Truth Social, dismissing it as “fake news” and stating, “Elon is not going to the Pentagon, and China will not even be mentioned.” Bannon, speaking on his War Room podcast, described this moment as when the “fever broke” for Musk, marking a shift in his public role. According to The Atlantic, Musk began quietly distancing himself from his high-profile work with DOGE, redirecting his focus to his private ventures—Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter.
Elon Musk is moving on, but DOGE stays
Musk confirmed this pivot in a post on Twitter, stating, “My priority is building the future with Tesla, SpaceX, and X. I’m stepping back from government involvement to focus on innovation.” He also announced a significant reduction in political donations, signaling a retreat from the political spotlight. Despite Musk’s withdrawal, DOGE remains active and DOGE employees will continue collaborating with Trump’s cabinet to advance the administration’s efficiency goals. "The mission of DOGE—to cut waste, fraud, and abuse -- will surely continue,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the publication in an email. “DOGE employees who onboarded at their respective agencies will continue to work with President Trump’s cabinet to make our government more efficient.” she reportedly added.
Elon Musk remains Donald Trump's Buddy No. 1
However, Musk’s ties to Trump have not entirely severed. In early May 2025, Musk accompanied Trump on a diplomatic trip to the Middle East, where they met with regional leaders, according to Reuters. Additionally, Musk was present during a White House meeting with Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, as noted in a Washington Post report, suggesting that Musk retains some advisory role, even if informal.
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