• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer

2

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

3

Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026

1

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer

2

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

3

Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
Politics

Cracks are beginning to show in the Musk-Trump partnership after the Tesla CEO reportedly appealed to White House on tariffs

Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 8, 2025, 7:00 AM ET
Donald Trump and Elon Musk
U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk seem to be at odds over tariffs.MANDEL NGAN/AFP - Getty Images
  • Elon Musk and President Trump are seemingly clashing over Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, which Musk opposes because of their harmful impact on U.S. trade relations and potentially his car company, Tesla. Despite Musk’s direct appeals and public support for zero tariffs between the U.S. and the EU, for example, Trump has continued to escalate trade barriers.

It seems tariffs may be the issue on which President Trump and his major donor and advisor, Elon Musk, stand on opposite sides of the debate.

Recommended Video

President Trump and Elon Musk’s relationship underwent something of a transformation in the run-up to the November election, with the Tesla CEO pledging millions of dollars to the Republican politician’s campaign.

Likewise Trump shifted his stance on EVs, now backing them to the extent he has reportedly bought one for his own personal use.

But it seems the days of the duo singing from the same hymn sheet may be numbered, and President Trump’s controversial tariff plan is the cause of the change.

Musk, whose net worth has been tanked by EV maker Tesla’s battered share price, reportedly appealed directly to Trump on the aggressive foreign policy.

Two sources told the Washington Post that Musk had tried to intervene on tariffs, but his pleas clearly fell on deaf ears.

Just in the past 24 hours President Trump has threatened to hike tariffs even further on China by another 50%. This would be on top of the two 20% levies he placed early into his term, as well as the 34% announced on April 2.

Musk’s reported talks behind closed doors with Trump are in line with the DOGE boss’s public statements, as well as the concerns of Tesla.

Over the weekend Musk came out in favor of a “zero tariff” agreement between the U.S. and Europe—at odds with the 20% tariff Trump had placed on the EU a matter of days before.

Speaking with Italy’s deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, Musk said: “I’m hopeful for example with the tariffs…that at the end of the day…it is agreed that Europe and the U.S. should move, ideally in my view, to a zero tariff situation—effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America.”

He also said there should be freedom for labor to move between the nations so that people could choose where they wanted to work, adding, “That has certainly been my advice to the president.”

Musk has also recently taken aim at Peter Navarro, a top trade advisor to President Trump and one of the key figures in the tariff agenda.

A video of Navarro on X—which shows the advisor explaining the tariff policy—qualified his opinion courtesy of an Ivy League degree.

But Musk responded: “A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem.”

Tesla paying the price

Tesla has already suffered because of Musk’s relationship with Trump. A boycott of the brand has seen more customers than ever before trading in their motors, as well as vandalism of Tesla sites and vehicles.

A couple of examples include Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles in Las Vegas, gunshots fired at a showroom in Portland, Ore., and charging points set on fire in Boston.

On top of the relationship between Tesla’s CEO and the Oval Office causing problems for the brand, Trump’s policies are also hurting it.

In March Tesla sent an unsigned letter to U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer, warning “U.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions.”

It continued that aggressive tariffs could trigger retaliation from trading partners and rival nations—a prophecy that has since proved true in the case of China at least—which in turn would directly impact American businesses and exporters.

The company also highlighted the ramifications for the auto sector, outlining how previous trade actions resulted in a tit-for-tat barrier escalation.

Tesla has also already proved its dislike for tariffs. In 2020, during President Trump’s first term, it was among a group of carmakers that launched lawsuits against the White House for its tariff policies on China.

At the time Tesla said the tariffs—a culmination of trade negotiations that began in 2018—were “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion.”

Neither Tesla nor the White House responded to Fortune’s request for comment.

Tesla’s share price is down 38.5% for the year to date, dropping to $233.29 from its all-time high in December of $479.86.

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
Eleanor Pringle
By Eleanor PringleSenior Reporter, Economics and Markets
LinkedIn icon

Eleanor Pringle is an award-winning senior reporter at Fortune covering news, the economy, and personal finance. Eleanor previously worked as a business correspondent and news editor in regional news in the U.K. She completed her journalism training with the Press Association after earning a degree from the University of East Anglia.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

fda
HealthTobacco
Why is the FDA approving kid-friendly, fruit-flavored e-cigarettes?
By Matthew Perrone and The Associated PressJune 12, 2026
3 hours ago
lula
EnvironmentTariffs
Trump turned environmentalist to slap new tariffs on Brazil, so why are deforestation rates down?
By Gabriela Sa Pessoa and The Associated PressJune 12, 2026
4 hours ago
defense
PoliticsDefense
Trump says Europe freeloads on defense. Britain’s own (former) Defense Secretary just agreed
By Jill Lawless, Danica Kirka and The Associated PressJune 11, 2026
8 hours ago
carney
North AmericaSocial Media
Canada joins global movement to ban social media for kids: ‘We are failing our children. Enough is enough’
By Rob Gillies and The Associated PressJune 11, 2026
20 hours ago
gianni
North AmericaWorld Cup
Mexico City roasts new chandeliers slapped onto its metro for World Cup
By Megan Janetsky and The Associated PressJune 11, 2026
20 hours ago
T-minus 24 hours: On the eve of SpaceX IPO liftoff some Wall Street analysts say the stock is worth only half of Elon Musk’s price
EconomyMarkets
T-minus 24 hours: On the eve of SpaceX IPO liftoff some Wall Street analysts say the stock is worth only half of Elon Musk’s price
By Jim EdwardsJune 11, 2026
23 hours ago

Most Popular

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
Energy
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
By Sasha RogelbergJune 10, 2026
2 days ago
Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
Environment
Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
By Catherina GioinoJune 9, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 11, 2026
21 hours ago
Marc Lore’s robots make 500 burrito bowls an hour. A human can make 45
Innovation
Marc Lore’s robots make 500 burrito bowls an hour. A human can make 45
By Amanda GerutJune 9, 2026
2 days ago
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
Success
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
By Preston ForeJune 8, 2026
4 days ago
SpaceX's record IPO has Wall Street torn between a Musk 'holy grail' and a $135-per-share leap of faith
Startups & Venture
SpaceX's record IPO has Wall Street torn between a Musk 'holy grail' and a $135-per-share leap of faith
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 11, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.