Elon Musk has made direct appeals to President Donald Trump urging him to reverse sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports, warning of consumer harm and economic fallout, The Washington Post reports.

Axar.az, citing The Economic Times, reports that despite Musk’s outreach and public opposition — including calls for a US–EU free trade zone — Trump has doubled down, escalating duties to 50%.

This clash deepens tensions between Musk and Trump’s inner circle, especially amid Tesla’s sliding stock value and declining demand.

Musk also blamed Trump adviser Peter Navarro, calling his economic credentials a liability, and took subtle digs at the tariff logic online.

Tesla’s $550 price target was slashed to $315 by Wedbush, with analyst Dan Ives citing Musk’s political entanglements as a “brand crisis tornado.” The company’s shares dropped over 2.5% on Monday, compounding a 38% YTD loss.

Despite a brief gesture of agreement with the U.S. trade rep, Musk and his brother Kimbal — also a Tesla board member — have publicly criticized the tariffs as a “permanent tax” on Americans.

Musk, once an influential voice within Trump’s advisory orbit, is reportedly preparing to step down, marking a broader rift between Silicon Valley and MAGA-era protectionism, with economic and political implications as the 2024 race heats up.

To access the full article, click here.