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By Joe Gould and Sam Skove
04/25/2025
His inclusion is significant because the SpaceX founder has billions of dollars in national security and defense contracts at stake.
Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump’s interview with Air Force secretary nominee Troy Meink, according to Meink’s own disclosure to Congress — a highly unusual move that raises serious conflict of interest concerns about the space mogul’s role in the selection process.
The previously unreported detail appeared in Meink’s written answers to the Senate Armed Services Committee and was obtained by POLITICO.
The disclosure is significant because Musk has billions of dollars in national security and defense contracts at stake as CEO of SpaceX. This includes Pentagon launch contracts, satellite systems and Trump’s proposed missile defense shield known as Golden Dome.
But his involvement in a personnel decision for a top Air Force post marks a new level of political reach for the billionaire entrepreneur — and a potential breach of ethical norms that discourage contractors from influencing leadership decisions in agencies that oversee their contracts.
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“I’ve never seen anything like this before — a military contractor helping pick the people who run the Pentagon,” said Richard Painter, the former chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush.
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“Musk sitting in on Meink’s interview was highly inappropriate, raising more questions about whether he hand-picked Meink — and if so, why,” Warren said in a statement. “Nobody elected Musk to anything — he should not be selecting our national security officials, especially if they have the power to give him billions in taxpayer dollars.”
Article continues:
04/25/2025
His inclusion is significant because the SpaceX founder has billions of dollars in national security and defense contracts at stake.
Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump’s interview with Air Force secretary nominee Troy Meink, according to Meink’s own disclosure to Congress — a highly unusual move that raises serious conflict of interest concerns about the space mogul’s role in the selection process.
The previously unreported detail appeared in Meink’s written answers to the Senate Armed Services Committee and was obtained by POLITICO.
The disclosure is significant because Musk has billions of dollars in national security and defense contracts at stake as CEO of SpaceX. This includes Pentagon launch contracts, satellite systems and Trump’s proposed missile defense shield known as Golden Dome.
But his involvement in a personnel decision for a top Air Force post marks a new level of political reach for the billionaire entrepreneur — and a potential breach of ethical norms that discourage contractors from influencing leadership decisions in agencies that oversee their contracts.
.
.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before — a military contractor helping pick the people who run the Pentagon,” said Richard Painter, the former chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush.
.
.
“Musk sitting in on Meink’s interview was highly inappropriate, raising more questions about whether he hand-picked Meink — and if so, why,” Warren said in a statement. “Nobody elected Musk to anything — he should not be selecting our national security officials, especially if they have the power to give him billions in taxpayer dollars.”
Article continues:
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www.politico.com
