MSNBC’s Mitchell to Sec. Yellen: Isn’t Elon Musk’s Relationship with China a National Security Problem?

Mitchell: “And let me finally asked you about a ‘New York Times’ report, but other reporting that we have done on Elon Musk and his relationship with China. Obviously Tesla competing now against their cheaper EVs, but he’s really dependent on that Chinese market, very tied in with them. He has huge defense contracts. His satellites or the satellites we rely on for so much of our communication. Isn’t it a national security problem for — and there’s rockets, of course — isn’t it a national security problem for our government to have so much reliance on this one entrepreneur?”
Yellen: “Well, look, we take national security very seriously and want to protect our national security. Our desire is not to shut down economic relations with China, we want to diversify our supply chains. But many American firms operate in China and gain from the ability to sell to China’s large market. China obviously sells a lot in the United States and the competition among our firms is by and large, a healthy thing. We want to stabilize that relationship not shut it down. But also we need to make sure that the playing field is level and we are concerned about Chinese subsidies and the impact on our firms.”
Mitchell: “Thank you very much, Madam Secretary. Safe travels when you’re on the road. We appreciate it.”