As global markets bleed and recession alarms blare, Elon Musk is trying to pull the brakes—directly asking President Trump to reverse the sweeping new tariffs before they damage American manufacturing beyond repair.

  • In a behind-the-scenes effort, Musk has made private appeals to Trump warning that 50% tariffs on Chinese imports will backfire on U.S. consumers and producers.
  • Musk reportedly told the administration the policy is economically reckless and blamed Trump’s trade advisers for “misunderstanding modern supply chains.”
  • He pushed for a “free trade zone” between the U.S. and Europe, suggesting cooperation—not walls—will ensure American dominance.
  • On X (formerly Twitter), Musk doubled down, posting clips of Milton Friedman praising globalization and criticizing tariffs as “tools of economic decline.”
  • Tesla is already under pressure, with rising costs on key components from China and declining margins putting the EV giant at risk.
  • The tariffs come as Tesla faces a slowdown in China—where it has a massive manufacturing hub—and competition from cheaper EVs is rising fast.
  • Musk’s warning lands just as Trump threatens to hike China tariffs to 104%, while dismissing concerns from Wall Street, allies, and CEOs.
  • The White House has made no move to reverse course, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying, “There is no postponing. The tariffs are coming. And they are staying.”

Musk’s message is clear—America is choking its innovators. But Trump’s response? Dig in deeper. As Elon battles to save global supply chains and his own empire, we’re left with one brutal truth: this is no longer about economics. It’s about power, control, and who gets to shape the next industrial era.

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