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elleng

(139,056 posts)
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:44 PM Dec 2024

'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 Dec 2024 OP
Trump can decide when he takes over in January. Stay tuned! OAITW r.2.0 Dec 2024 #1
Well, I do not. think he could pass the background check to be a central office telephone worker. LiberalArkie Dec 2024 #2
Crash Helmet 4 Point Seat Belt Going to be a Long 4 Years R U Ready Oneear Dec 2024 #3
Hasn't he always been a national security risk? SWBTATTReg Dec 2024 #4
Yes. elleng Dec 2024 #5
I want to know why more people aren't jumping up and down and screaming yellow dahlia Dec 2024 #6
Perhaps voter fatigue...people are tired of politics, tired of hearing tRUMP's mouth, tired of the endless SWBTATTReg Dec 2024 #7
Fair point. I'm tired... yellow dahlia Dec 2024 #12
Scream to whom, Merrick the Meek, the media, whom do you suggest ? republianmushroom Dec 2024 #9
Fair point. yellow dahlia Dec 2024 #11
Everyone is afraid of Trump and Musk. Irish_Dem Dec 2024 #13
Timothy Snyder warned us in "On Tyranny" - yellow dahlia Dec 2024 #17
Brazil thought him a national security risk enough to B.See Dec 2024 #8
I figured he was when he bought Twitter. Initech Dec 2024 #10
All republicans are a national security risk. dickthegrouch Dec 2024 #14
Yes, Musk is a security risk LetMyPeopleVote Dec 2024 #15
uh.....yeah ..... DoBW Dec 2024 #16
Yes, and it's fair to ask the question "Is Donald Trump a national security risk." Neither question will receive a Martin68 Dec 2024 #18
I think Musk does whatever he thinks is necessary to turn a profit. patphil Dec 2024 #19
Doesn't he owe a billion dollars or so SARose Dec 2024 #20
Leon needs to hop 'board his spaceship... GoldenMezzoDiva Dec 2024 #21

LiberalArkie

(17,810 posts)
2. Well, I do not. think he could pass the background check to be a central office telephone worker.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:49 PM
Dec 2024

Oneear

(431 posts)
3. Crash Helmet 4 Point Seat Belt Going to be a Long 4 Years R U Ready
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:50 PM
Dec 2024

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

SWBTATTReg

(25,088 posts)
4. Hasn't he always been a national security risk?
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:56 PM
Dec 2024

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

(2,136 posts)
6. I want to know why more people aren't jumping up and down and screaming
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 04:14 PM
Dec 2024

about what is headed our way.

SWBTATTReg

(25,088 posts)
7. Perhaps voter fatigue...people are tired of politics, tired of hearing tRUMP's mouth, tired of the endless
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 04:19 PM
Dec 2024

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

yellow dahlia

(2,136 posts)
11. Fair point.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 04:38 PM
Dec 2024

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

(5,039 posts)
8. Brazil thought him a national security risk enough to
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 04:19 PM
Dec 2024

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

Initech

(104,402 posts)
10. I figured he was when he bought Twitter.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 04:29 PM
Dec 2024

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

dickthegrouch

(3,969 posts)
14. All republicans are a national security risk.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 05:25 PM
Dec 2024

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

LetMyPeopleVote

(160,969 posts)
15. Yes, Musk is a security risk
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 05:38 PM
Dec 2024


#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

(25,311 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, 12:16 PM
Dec 2024

response.

patphil

(7,607 posts)
19. I think Musk does whatever he thinks is necessary to turn a profit.
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 12:56 PM
Dec 2024

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

(1,300 posts)
20. Doesn't he owe a billion dollars or so
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 05:20 PM
Dec 2024

To a Chinese bank?

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

GoldenMezzoDiva

(121 posts)
21. Leon needs to hop 'board his spaceship...
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 05:22 PM
Dec 2024

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

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