General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'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

OAITW r.2.0
(30,333 posts)LiberalArkie
(18,300 posts)Oneear
(431 posts)The Show is Starting. It will Play out with No Reruns Donald J. Trump is a Lame Duck
SWBTATTReg
(25,347 posts)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.
Yes.
Yes.
yellow dahlia
(2,453 posts)about what is headed our way.
SWBTATTReg
(25,347 posts)discussions, debates, on literally everything on Earth during the recent election cycle.
yellow dahlia
(2,453 posts)and scared.
republianmushroom
(20,048 posts)yellow dahlia
(2,453 posts)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.
Irish_Dem
(70,217 posts)Or want to curry favor.
yellow dahlia
(2,453 posts)obeying in advance.
B.See
(5,510 posts)BAN his ass and his propaganda outlet from the COUNTRY. He has ALWAYS been a national security risk.
Initech
(104,992 posts)His hostile takeover of that platform is still highly suspect in my eyes!
dickthegrouch
(4,044 posts)The whole lot of them should be incarcerated on aiding and abetting charges.
LetMyPeopleVote
(163,876 posts)Link to tweet
DoBW
(2,520 posts)if he could stop spooning with China, that'd be great
Martin68
(25,851 posts)response.
patphil
(7,876 posts)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
(1,466 posts)To a Chinese bank?
I would say that makes him a risk but what do I know?
GoldenMezzoDiva
(123 posts)and blast off into the next galaxy, with 99 years' worth of ketamine!