Mark Zuckerberg crashes Trump's classified Oval Office briefing, asked to leave: report
Earlier this year, top Air Force generals arrived at the Oval Office for a classified briefing on the 'F-47,' America's sixth-generation stealth fighter jet, named in honour of Trump as the 47th US president. But the secure meeting reportedly took an unexpected turn when Meta CEO walked in unannounced, according to an NBC News report cited by The Independent.
Zuckerberg's sudden entrance raised eyebrows, as White House officials were concerned the tech mogul lacked the security clearance required for such a high-level defence discussion.
Though Zuckerberg was eventually asked to step out, the incident rattled military leaders. 'They were mystified and a bit unnerved by the lack of privacy,' one official told NBC, suggesting that they even questioned whether sensitive information had been compromised.
The scene, insiders say, is emblematic of the 'bizarro world' atmosphere inside the Trump White House, where formality has been replaced by chaos and walk-ins are common.
President Trump, who has reportedly nicknamed the Oval Office 'Grand Central Terminal' after New York's bustling transit hub, has embraced a freewheeling, drop-in style for meetings. Cabinet secretaries, advisers, and even business leaders are said to wander in and out — often staying around for unrelated meetings just in case decisions are made.
'He likes to schmooze and bounce things off whoever is around,' a White House aide told The Independent.
That includes billionaire guests like Zuckerberg, who allegedly visited for a separate meeting but found himself in the room during one of the most secretive defence briefings of Trump's presidency.
One person who's been present at these chaotic meetings told NBC: 'No one wants to miss the decision.'
The reported culture shift is a stark contrast to past administrations, where Oval Office access was tightly managed. Even senior officials are said to now linger at the White House, hoping to have the president's ear — or at least catch a key moment.
The report didn't clarify whether Zuckerberg overheard any classified material, but the optics have raised questions about protocol, national security, and Trump's governing style.
The Pentagon and Secret Service have not officially commented on the incident.
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