TEXAS, January 12, 2026 – In a significant display of collaboration between private space innovation and national defense, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk welcomed U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas on Monday. The visit, part of Hegseth’s ongoing “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, highlighted the critical role of large-scale manufacturing in bolstering American strength and security.
During the event, Musk addressed an audience of SpaceX employees and defense leaders, emphasizing the honor of hosting Hegseth and senior Pentagon officials. “We’re honored today to have the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and much of the senior leadership at the Pentagon here,” Musk said in a video clip shared on X by the America PAC, a political action committee founded by Musk. He noted that the group had just completed a tour of the Starbase factory, underscoring how such facilities demonstrate the importance of scaled manufacturing for America’s future.
“This really helps illustrate how manufacturing at scale is critical to strengthening America,” Musk added, before beginning to outline SpaceX’s mission to advance space exploration and technology.
The visit comes on the heels of the Department of War’s announcement of its AI Acceleration Strategy, which includes expanding access to advanced generative AI tools like xAI’s Grok through the secure GenAI.mil platform. This initiative, launched earlier today, aims to equip over 3 million DoW personnel with frontier AI capabilities at Impact Level 5 security, fostering efficiency and innovation across military operations. While not directly addressed in the shared clip, the timing suggests the Starbase event may have served as a backdrop for discussions on integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI and space systems into U.S. defense strategies.
Hegseth’s tour, which also included a stop at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth earlier that day, is designed to rally the defense industrial base for faster production and reduced bureaucracy under the Trump administration. The secretary delivered remarks alongside Musk, focusing on reviving American manufacturing and ensuring technological superiority to maintain “peace through strength.
“SpaceX’s Starbase, home to the development and testing of the Starship rocket, has recently secured a $739 million contract from the Department of War, further cementing its role in national security efforts. The facility’s rapid iteration and production capabilities were likely a key topic during the factory tour.
Reactions on X to the event were largely positive, with users praising the alignment between innovative companies like SpaceX and the military. One commenter noted the symbolic importance: “Builders and warfighters in the same room… this is about output over optics, deterrence through competence.”
This visit marks Hegseth’s third major speech since assuming his role, following addresses at Newport News Shipyard and Rocket Lab. As the “Arsenal of Freedom” tour continues, it signals a renewed emphasis on public-private partnerships to enhance U.S. military readiness in an era of global challenges.
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