WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted entrepreneur and presidential advisor Elon Musk at the Pentagon on Friday in a closed-door meeting focused on innovation, efficiency and advanced production strategies for the Department of Defense.
The one-hour meeting took place in Hegseth’s office following a personal invitation extended to Musk, according to defense officials. The visit, officials said, was unrelated to Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency.
Photographs released by the Pentagon show the two shaking hands on the steps outside the building before heading inside for discussions.
“We will rebuild our military by matching threats to capabilities,” Hegseth said in a recent message to service members. “This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit and rapidly fielding emerging technologies.”
Officials said Friday’s discussion revolved around those same themes, with a focus on how private-sector strategies could support defense readiness and operational improvement.
Musk, who heads several major companies spanning aerospace, automotive, communications and AI, has played an increasingly visible role in federal initiatives. His company recently facilitated the safe return of NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station, marking another milestone in public-private space operations.
This was Musk’s first visit to the Pentagon since 2016, when he met with then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
Musk’s appearance comes amid the department’s wider push for rapid modernization and technological integration across the armed forces.
Key Points
- Elon Musk met privately with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon to discuss innovation and defense efficiency.
- Officials confirmed the visit was a personal invitation and not tied to Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency.
- The meeting follows Musk’s recent role in a NASA astronaut return mission and marks his first Pentagon visit since 2016.