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“Top Secret” Note Spotted at Elon Musk’s White House Meeting
A cryptic handwritten message on a notepad, conspicuously displayed before Elon Musk during a televised White House Cabinet meeting, has sparked widespread speculation. Social media images show the Tesla CEO seated at a table alongside senior officials from the Trump administration, with the words “top secret” clearly visible to cameras. This episode has garnered significant attention online, prompting various interpretations.
Possible Repercussion to Media Reports
The visible note could be interpreted as a public retort by the technology magnate following a New York Times article in March. The report alleged that Mr. Musk was slated to receive a “top secret” briefing concerning military strategies devised for a potential conflict between the United States and China. According to the report, this briefing was to encompass 20 to 30 slides detailing US war plans against China. The Times cited anonymous US officials as sources. President Trump previously dismissed the validity of this report. The situation also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given Mr. Musk’s business dealings in China and engagements with the Pentagon through certain ventures.
White House Assurances and Alternative Interpretations
The White House has previously stated that Mr. Musk would recuse himself from any situations presenting conflicts of interest due to his business ventures and his role in leading initiatives to reduce federal spending.
Alternatively, the “top secret” note might have pertained to an announcement Mr. Musk made during the Cabinet meeting itself.
Claims of Government Savings
During the meeting, Mr. Musk asserted that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) projected government savings of $150 billion in the upcoming fiscal year. These anticipated savings were attributed to efforts to eliminate “waste” and “fraud,” according to Mr. Musk.
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He further elaborated that some of these savings would stem from addressing “absurd” scenarios, such as instances of unemployment insurance being paid to individuals not yet born.
In remarks directed at US taxpayers, Mr. Musk stated, “We’re going to be spending their tax dollars in a manner that is just, sensible and beneficial.”
However, this projected saving figure is considerably less than his previous stated goal of cutting $1 trillion – a figure he mentioned in a recent interview.
Musk’s Future Role and Administration Tensions
Both Mr. Musk and President Trump have indicated that the entrepreneur is likely to conclude his advisory role with the administration in the near future.
Mr. Musk was a significant contributor to Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign and has been considered a close ally. Nevertheless, recent weeks have seen tensions emerge between the billionaire and some individuals within the Trump administration.
Public Spat with Economic Advisor
Just days prior, the White House responded with “boys will be boys” after Mr. Musk publicly labeled one of President Trump’s senior economic advisors a “moron.”
This public disagreement involved Mr. Musk and trade advisor Peter Navarro, and centered around President Trump’s decision to impose broad tariffs on numerous US trading partners. While President Trump has since softened his stance on levies for most nations, tariffs remain in place for China.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Navarro dismissed Mr. Musk’s advocacy for “zero tariffs” between the US and Europe, referring to him as a “car assembler” reliant on imported components.