Pentagon launches polygraph investigation after Elon Musk called for prosecution of officials spreading 'maliciously false information'
The Pentagon has issued a polygraph investigation following Elon Musk's call for prosecution following false information.
Last Friday (21 March), the tech billionaire visited the Pentagon to discuss reducing costs and increasing innovation as part of his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
However, The New York Times reported that Musk was allegedly set to receive a secret briefing about US war plans involving China.
According to the news report, which quoted several unnamed US officials, Musk was supposedly set to be shown sensitive military strategies related to China. On top of that, Musk’s past comments about China haven’t exactly helped as he once called Taiwan 'an integral part of China' and suggested that the self-ruled island become an administrative zone of the country.
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The Tesla CEO fired back calling the rumours 'pure propaganda' and threatened to find those who leaked the information.
“I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “They will be found.”
Now, the Pentagon is taking action.
A full investigation has been launched to track down the source of the 'maliciously false information' - complete with polygraph tests.
Joe Kasper, chief of staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, called for an investigation into 'unauthorised disclosures' of national security information with those found responsible to 'be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution.'
Both Trump and Peter Hegseth denied that Musk was ever scheduled to receive any sensitive intel about military plans, with Trump even pointing out that Musk’s ties to China are exactly why he wouldn’t be looped in on such matters.
The New York Times is pure propaganda.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 21, 2025
Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT.
They will be found. pic.twitter.com/xANvLMOH5j
The US President responded to claims about Musk mentioning China: “Elon has businesses in China. And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that.”
Meanwhile, Hegseth continues to praise Musk and DOGE for their work cutting government spending, calling the collaboration a big win for efficiency.
On the back of the Pentagon meeting, Hegseth said: “We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about [the ‘department of government efficiency’], to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation."
The investigation into leaks 'will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense,' Kasper wrote. He added: “The report will include a complete record of unauthorized disclosures within the Department of Defense and recommendations to improve such efforts.”