Former US general warns Musk poses national security risks
by Julia Shapero - 12/30/24 2:01 PM ET
A former U.S. general warned Sunday that Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who has become intricately involved in President-elect Trump’s transition, may pose national security risks due to his ties to China and Russia.
Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré pointed to the Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s business interests in China, as well as his reported conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The fact that Mr. Musk spent a quarter of a billion dollars to help re-elect Mr. Trump does not give the incoming White House the license to look the other way at the national security risks he may pose,” Honoré wrote in a New York Times op-ed.
“If Mr. Trump and his appointees mean what they say about getting tough on America’s adversaries, then they will act on this matter without delay,” he continued. “There is too much at stake to ignore what’s right in front of them.”
China is a major market for Musk’s Tesla, which owns a factory in Shanghai. Honoré noted that Chinese law requires companies doing business in the country to turn over information if requested.
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https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/5060159-elon-musk-national-security-risks/