Elon Musk has been labelled a “national security risk” by Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré, a retired US Army general, in a blistering op-ed published in The New York Times. Honoré warns that Musk’s business entanglements with China and his influence over American politics pose serious risks to national security.
A history of deals with China
Honoré pointed out that Musk’s companies, particularly Tesla and SpaceX, have strong ties with China. Musk borrowed at least $1.4 billion from Chinese government-controlled banks to build Tesla’s gigafactory in Shanghai, which produced more than half of Tesla’s global deliveries in the third quarter of 2024.
“China doesn’t give things away,” Honoré wrote. He warned that Chinese law allows the Communist Party to demand intelligence from any company operating within its borders, raising concerns that Musk could be pressured into sharing sensitive or classified information.
Musk’s influence on Trump raises eyebrows
The concerns don’t stop at China. Honoré highlighted Musk’s close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, describing it as another layer of risk. The pair have reportedly teamed up on various political initiatives, including helping to derail a bipartisan congressional spending bill that lacked Musk’s approval.
Even Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential hopeful who now heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Musk, has publicly expressed concern. In 2023, Ramaswamy warned:
“I have no reason to think Elon won’t jump like a circus monkey when Xi Jinping calls in the hour of need.”
SpaceX’s dominance is another concern
Honoré also flagged SpaceX’s near-monopoly on US rocket launches as a significant national security vulnerability.
“The last thing the United States needs is for China to have an easier route to classified intelligence,” he wrote, pointing to SpaceX’s role in launching sensitive government payloads.
Federal reviews into Musk’s meetings with foreign leaders—including some where details remain undisclosed—have only added fuel to the fire, with potential violations of national security rules under investigation.
Will the Trump administration act?
Honoré questioned whether the Trump administration would take these threats seriously, especially given Musk’s financial support for Trump’s re-election.
“The fact that Musk spent a quarter of a billion dollars to help re-elect Mr. Trump should not give the incoming White House a free pass to ignore the risks,” he wrote. “If they are serious about protecting national security, they will act without delay. There’s too much at stake to look the other way.”
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