Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

elleng

(136,963 posts)
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 02:44 PM Sunday

'It is now fair to ask the question: Is Elon Musk a national security risk?

According to numerous interviews and remarks, Mr. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency co-leader, Vivek Ramaswamy, once appeared to believe he was. In May 2023, Mr. Ramaswamy went so far as to publicly state, “I have no reason to think Elon won’t jump like a circus monkey when Xi Jinping calls in the hour of need,” a reference to China’s leader. In a separate X post targeting Mr. Musk, he wrote, “the U.S. needs leaders who aren’t in China’s pocket.”

Mr. Ramaswamy has since walked back his numerous public criticisms of Mr. Musk, but he was right to raise concerns. According to news reports, Mr. Musk and his rocket company, SpaceX, face federal reviews from the Air Force, the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General and the under secretary of defense for intelligence and security for failing to provide details of Mr. Musk’s meetings with foreign leaders and other potential violations of national-security rules.

These alleged infractions are just the beginning of my worries. Mr. Musk’s business ventures are heavily reliant on China. He borrowed at least $1.4 billion from banks controlled by the Chinese government to help build Tesla’s Shanghai gigafactory, which was responsible for more than half of Tesla’s global deliveries in the third quarter of 2024.

China does not tend to give things away. The country’s laws stipulate that the Communist Party can demand intelligence from any company doing business in China, in exchange for participating in the country’s markets.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/opinion/elon-musk-china-classified-secrets-national-security-russia-doge.html

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'It is now fair to ask the question: Is Elon Musk a national security risk? (Original Post) elleng Sunday OP
Trump can decide when he takes over in January. Stay tuned! OAITW r.2.0 Sunday #1
Well, I do not. think he could pass the background check to be a central office telephone worker. LiberalArkie Sunday #2
Crash Helmet 4 Point Seat Belt Going to be a Long 4 Years R U Ready Oneear Sunday #3
Hasn't he always been a national security risk? SWBTATTReg Sunday #4
Yes. elleng Sunday #5
I want to know why more people aren't jumping up and down and screaming yellow dahlia Sunday #6
Perhaps voter fatigue...people are tired of politics, tired of hearing tRUMP's mouth, tired of the endless SWBTATTReg Sunday #7
Fair point. I'm tired... yellow dahlia Sunday #12
Scream to whom, Merrick the Meek, the media, whom do you suggest ? republianmushroom Sunday #9
Fair point. yellow dahlia Sunday #11
Everyone is afraid of Trump and Musk. Irish_Dem Sunday #13
Timothy Snyder warned us in "On Tyranny" - yellow dahlia Sunday #17
Brazil thought him a national security risk enough to B.See Sunday #8
I figured he was when he bought Twitter. Initech Sunday #10
All republicans are a national security risk. dickthegrouch Sunday #14
Yes, Musk is a security risk LetMyPeopleVote Sunday #15
uh.....yeah ..... DoBW Sunday #16
Yes, and it's fair to ask the question "Is Donald Trump a national security risk." Neither question will receive a Martin68 Monday #18
I think Musk does whatever he thinks is necessary to turn a profit. patphil Monday #19
Doesn't he owe a billion dollars or so SARose Monday #20
Leon needs to hop 'board his spaceship... GoldenMezzoDiva Monday #21

LiberalArkie

(16,683 posts)
2. Well, I do not. think he could pass the background check to be a central office telephone worker.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 02:49 PM
Sunday

Oneear

(129 posts)
3. Crash Helmet 4 Point Seat Belt Going to be a Long 4 Years R U Ready
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 02:50 PM
Sunday

The Show is Starting. It will Play out with No Reruns Donald J. Trump is a Lame Duck

SWBTATTReg

(24,393 posts)
4. Hasn't he always been a national security risk?
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 02:56 PM
Sunday

muskrat is nuttier than a squirrel going after a huge batch of acorns in the woods.

Also, IMHO, I personally think that the muskrat/tRUMP friendship is on the way out...tRUMP got what he wanted out of the relationship (I am thinking) so he is pretty well ready to dump him (muskrat). Even muskrat is too crazy for tRUMP.

The Chaos administration is here upon us, get ready for the hell of a bumpy ride that is coming and buckle down the hatches, fasten your seatbelts. Our nightmare will soon be here.

yellow dahlia

(270 posts)
6. I want to know why more people aren't jumping up and down and screaming
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:14 PM
Sunday

about what is headed our way.

SWBTATTReg

(24,393 posts)
7. Perhaps voter fatigue...people are tired of politics, tired of hearing tRUMP's mouth, tired of the endless
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:19 PM
Sunday

discussions, debates, on literally everything on Earth during the recent election cycle.

yellow dahlia

(270 posts)
11. Fair point.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:38 PM
Sunday

I don't understand why our leaders are being so complacent. Why is nothing being done within the Constitutional framework?

I've been asking that question on DU. Yes, I would like some other places to scream to.

B.See

(3,883 posts)
8. Brazil thought him a national security risk enough to
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:19 PM
Sunday

BAN his ass and his propaganda outlet from the COUNTRY. He has ALWAYS been a national security risk.

Initech

(102,574 posts)
10. I figured he was when he bought Twitter.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:29 PM
Sunday

His hostile takeover of that platform is still highly suspect in my eyes!

dickthegrouch

(3,618 posts)
14. All republicans are a national security risk.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 04:25 PM
Sunday

The whole lot of them should be incarcerated on aiding and abetting charges.

LetMyPeopleVote

(155,746 posts)
15. Yes, Musk is a security risk
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 04:38 PM
Sunday


#BREAKING: Legendary #Maddow: "...but it's all the more unsettling given reporting in recent days, about the ways in which our own government has found #ElonMusk to be a potential national security risk. WSJ for example, reported that while there are several hundred employees at SpaceX--Musk's company--who have security clearances for what's known as 'sensitive compartmented information', Musk is NOT one of the people who has that level of clearance, and that's not normal..."😳

Martin68

(24,764 posts)
18. Yes, and it's fair to ask the question "Is Donald Trump a national security risk." Neither question will receive a
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 11:16 AM
Monday

response.

patphil

(7,152 posts)
19. I think Musk does whatever he thinks is necessary to turn a profit.
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 11:56 AM
Monday

For example, I can't imagine the Chinese letting him build a gigantic factory in their country without some sort of quid pro quo.
Given the huge defense contracts he has with the US, I think it's most likely true that he trades knowledge for wealth.
So, my answer is most definitely yes, Musk is a very strong security risk.
I wouldn't want him in the White House as part of a tour group, let alone as a major advisor to the president.
This DOGE thing is just another way for Musk to build his power, and generate more money through more influence.

SARose

(896 posts)
20. Doesn't he owe a billion dollars or so
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 04:20 PM
Monday

To a Chinese bank?

I would say that makes him a risk but what do I know?

GoldenMezzoDiva

(111 posts)
21. Leon needs to hop 'board his spaceship...
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 04:22 PM
Monday

and blast off into the next galaxy, with 99 years' worth of ketamine!

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'It is now fair to ask th...