BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS January 12, 2026 — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas, where he met with company founder and CEO Elon Musk and addressed employees.
The visit focused on strengthening ties between the Department of Defense and private-sector innovators like SpaceX, which holds significant government contracts for space launch services and national security missions.
Video footage shared widely on social media showed Musk and Hegseth walking together outside Starbase’s modern buildings, surrounded by SpaceX staff and uniformed military personnel. Musk introduced Hegseth, who then delivered remarks to the workforce — his third public speech as secretary.
The event was part of Hegseth’s tour of key defense industry sites, including a subsequent stop at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth. Sources indicate the discussions emphasized accelerating defense production and innovation.
A post from the America PAC — a political action committee founded by Elon Musk — shared the clip but incorrectly described the location as the Pentagon and referred to Hegseth as “Secretary of War,” a historical title sometimes used informally. Online users quickly noted the mismatch, pointing to the palm trees and Texas architecture visible in the video.
The visit follows recent SpaceX contract awards and underscores the growing role of commercial space companies in U.S. defense strategy.
About The Author
