Washington, D.C. – Billionaire businessman Elon Musk may have stood by President Donald Trump on many policies, but it seems Trump’s expanding trade tariffs have created serious tension between them.
According to a report by The Washington Post, Musk privately tried to convince Trump to back off from the high tariffs on Chinese goods, which have reportedly shaken global markets. This attempt to change the President’s mind didn’t succeed, as Trump continued to push forward with his aggressive trade war stance—even threatening to increase tariffs by 50%.
A Rare Public Disagreement Between Trump and Musk
While Elon Musk has supported Trump on various issues—including serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency—the new tariffs have caused what’s being called their “highest-profile disagreement” so far.
Though Musk didn’t publicly confront Trump directly, he did take to his social platform X (formerly Twitter) to express concern. However, instead of blaming Trump, Musk pointed fingers at Peter Navarro, a senior Trump adviser known for pushing hardline trade policies.
Still, Musk tried to keep the peace on Monday by resharing a post from a U.S. trade official that defended the tariffs as a response to “unfair” foreign trade practices. Musk simply replied, “Good points,” trying to balance his opinion without directly going against Trump.
Musk’s Financial Losses Raise the Stakes
This isn’t just about policy—it’s also personal. Elon Musk has reportedly lost around $130 billion this year, and some of that is being blamed on the market impact of Trump’s tariffs.
As the CEO of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, Musk depends heavily on international trade and supply chains. Tariffs on imports can increase production costs and reduce competitiveness, especially when dealing with China, a major market and supplier.
What Are These Tariffs About?
The Trump administration has been expanding tariffs on goods coming from China, saying that the country engages in unfair trade practices and undercuts American industries. The White House says the goal is to protect American jobs and manufacturing.
However, many business leaders—including Musk—fear that these tariffs are doing more harm than good by increasing costs, slowing global trade, and shaking investor confidence.