Tech billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, made direct appeals to U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend to reverse newly imposed tariffs, according to a report from the Washington Post.
The calls came after Trump introduced a 10% baseline tariff on all U.S. imports, alongside higher duties on several other countries, sparking concerns about potential economic fallout. Musk, a close adviser to Trump, has been an advocate for reducing government inefficiencies and previously called for zero tariffs between the U.S. and Europe during a virtual address to Italy's right-wing League Party in Florence.
Despite Musk’s efforts, Tesla has struggled financially, with its quarterly sales taking a significant hit amid mounting criticism of Musk’s involvement in creating a new "Department of Government Efficiency." Tesla's stock has dropped more than 42% since the beginning of the year, closing at $233.29 on Monday.
Musk has openly expressed concerns about the impact of Trump’s auto tariffs on Tesla, calling them “significant.” Economists have warned that the tariffs could fuel inflation, increase the likelihood of a U.S. recession, and raise costs for American families, posing a challenge to Trump, who campaigned on promises to reduce living expenses.
Neither the White House nor Musk responded immediately to requests for comment from Reuters.
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