Musk Meeting World Leaders Faces Controversy Over US Security Regulation Violations

Investigation Underway by Ministry of National Defense and Two Other Agencies

Reports have emerged that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and a rising influential figure in the second Trump administration set to launch in January next year, is under investigation by military authorities for violating security regulations. Musk, who has access to the highest level of U.S. military secrets, is accused of failing to report sensitive information such as meetings with foreign leaders to the government.

On the 17th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported, citing sources, that at least three government agencies?including the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General’s Office, the Department of Defense’s Intelligence and Security Office, and the U.S. Air Force?are individually investigating whether Musk violated national security confidentiality regulations.

From the left, Donald Trump, President-elect of the United States, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and JD Vance, Vice President-elect. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Musk, who leads Tesla and SpaceX, holds the highest level of U.S. military secret access rights through multiple defense contracts with government agencies. SpaceX, a company engaged in low-earth orbit satellite communication networks and spacecraft development and operation, signed federal contracts totaling at least $10 billion (approximately 14 trillion won) with the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA from 2019 to 2023. Because these contracts involve sensitive military secrets, SpaceX personnel have been granted different levels of classified access clearance after government screening.

Musk himself reportedly held a mid-level clearance until around 2018, when he applied for and was granted a “Top Secret” clearance after about two years. This is the highest level of clearance, surpassing “Secret” and “Confidential” in the U.S. national security and confidentiality protection system.

The issue is that Musk failed to comply with regulations applicable to individuals with top-secret clearance, which require reporting any matters related to personal life or overseas travel that could affect national security to the government. In particular, concerns have grown inside and outside his companies because Musk frequently met with foreign leaders and even took prescribed drugs without notifying authorities. As a key figure in the U.S. presidential election, Musk has met with various world leaders and on this day also spent time with Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Reform Party, who is dubbed the “British Trump.”

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK Party (right), Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla (center), and Nick Candy, financial officer of the Reform UK Party (left). Photo by Farage.

Regarding this, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that SpaceX’s legal team, worried that Musk’s noncompliance could lead to revocation of his existing security clearance, advised him not to apply for special security clearances such as SCI or SAP, which require stricter controls than Top Secret. SCI and SAP are security clearances for highly classified programs like nuclear weapons or stealth aircraft, and only a limited number of people within SpaceX currently hold them.

NYT explained, “Governments of nine countries in Europe and the Middle East, including Israel, have raised security concerns about Musk during meetings with U.S. Department of Defense officials over the past three years,” adding that “business interests in China, where Tesla has factories, are also a concern.” Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, criticized, “It is worrisome that someone with major government contracts is in a position to potentially leak secrets, whether intentionally or by mistake.”

However, it remains uncertain how much this investigation can restrain Musk, the ‘First Buddy’ CEO, as he enjoys the favor of President-elect Trump, who can grant security clearances to anyone after taking office. Especially with Musk set to head the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and having announced plans to consolidate various government agencies and cut budgets, Department of Defense officials reportedly are cautious and have internally banned related discussions.

Among experts, this is seen as the first case raising conflict-of-interest issues regarding Musk’s role and authority as a private-sector individual wielding the federal reform reins. Daniel Bryan, head of the non-profit Government Oversight Project (PGO), which monitors Department of Defense contracts, pointed out, “Musk is creating a very threatening environment for government agencies we rely on to expose any wrongdoing we find,” adding, “This will undermine our system of accountability, checks, and balances.”

Reuters Yonhap News