- With Trump’s trade war escalating with ChinaThe White House seems to be increasingly cautious about Elon Musk’s participation in foreign policy discussions due to the conflict of potential interests. previously Timing The CEO and senior consultants have been granted a relatively free era to host high -level meetings with international leaders, but it seems that the Oval Office is keen to start the distance between the richest man on this planet and diplomat.
When Elon Musk was appointed as a private government consultant and employee in the Trump administration framework, speculators wondered how the special interests of Tesla CEO could put him on the Trump policies team.
The customs tariff – and a trade war followed by China – is the issue that can cause the rift between the two.
New York Times It was stated in March that Musk was to bring a high -level surrounding briefing in the Pentagon on America’s plans in the event of a military conflict with China.
The president denied the story, saying that China was not scheduled to be discussed at the meeting, and the investigation of the leakage was followed.
The investigation led to the expulsion of a number of officials, Politico reports.
At that time, Trump wrote on the social media platform, the social truth, that the story is “completely incorrect” with the Minister of Defense, Beit Highath, adding X: “Fake news is delivered again – this is not a meeting on” China’s Secret War Plans “. It is an unofficial meeting on the most intelligent innovation, competencies and production.”
Moving forward a visit to the musk to the Pentagon, and the CEO of Tesla said after that The meeting was “great”.
However, reports now indicate that the Bentagon visiting agenda in Musk has been directed away from China, according to President Trump’s demands.
Intuition I mentioned The president did not want to muster in the room for talks about the conflict with the foreign competitor.
The White House and MUSK representatives have been contacted before luck To comment.
Whether Trump enters the Pentagon meeting or not, the White House clearly realizes that Musk has a firm interest in how to play the American war with China – and needs to manage the situation accordingly.
Trump so He told reporters In the White House, after NYT report, “Certainly it will not appear [military plans] For a businessman. “
“Elon has works in China, and he will be vulnerable to it,” Trump added.
The distance that Trump now creates between foreign diplomacy and musk is a flagrant change for months, when the White House emphasized that musk will be autonomy when the conflicts of interests arise in his work with the Ministry of Governmental efficiency (Dog).
In fact, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Washington visited DC in February, TrumpHe said he “does not know”What is the nature of the meeting.
“They met, and assume [Musk] “He wants to do business in India,” Trump told reporters.
The indifferent approach to Musk’s reactions with foreign leaders appears to have changed with the heating of tensions on Trump’s tariff policy.
ChinaIn particular, he strongly responded to the head policy of Trump’s second state.
The United States is now It effectively imposes a 145 % tariff on Chinese importsWith China Imposed a 124.1 % on imports from America.
Tesla interest in China is important. While the EV maker produces its vehicles in the United States, it is exporting it in large numbers to China, which representsThe second largest market.
BYD – TESLA Sentence – will get more sales in China as a local product.
Introductory confrontation
The president’s resistance to allow Musk to approach the details about China because the owner of X has increased his speech opposing the Trump tariff policy.
Indeed, Tesla – the company from which Musk derives the largest part of its wealth – has taken its position on the known definitions and The White House warned in an inconsistent message: “American exporters are inherently exposed to improper effects when other countries respond to US trade procedures.”
The richest man on this planet did not deny the fact that it is hostile to recovery.
Talk to“I hope for example the definitions … that at the end of the day … it is agreed that Europe and the United States must move ideally, in my opinion, to a zero tariff – actually created a free trade zone between Europe and North America,” said Mousse Prime Minister Mousse, Matteo Salvini earlier this month.
As two sources said previouslyWashington PostThis musk tried to intervene on customs duties, but its appeals fell on deaf ears.
Perhaps the most amazing mark on policy of rift is Mossk’s criticism of Peter Navarro, a senior trade consultant in Trump, especially regarding the customs tariff policy.
Musk publicly calls Navarro “a fool”, adding: “Navaro is stupid than a brick bag.”
This story was originally shown on Fortune.com
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2025-04-17 11:17:00
