There are reports that U.S. President Donald Trump's tough tariff policy is narrowing the position of Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk. Musk has expressed public opposition due to concerns about damage to the automotive industry caused by tariffs, but the White House has reportedly not accepted this. Criticism of Musk is growing within the Trump administration, and the Democratic Party is pressuring him to formalize his resignation.
According to foreign media, Musk's political isolation began with his role in the administration. Musk is currently serving as a special government employee in the federal government, but due to relevant laws, he cannot work more than 130 days a year. In response, 77 Democratic members of the House of Representatives delivered a letter to President Trump, demanding that Musk's resignation be formalized by the 30th of next month. They believe that Musk should not return unless he divests from his holdings, including Tesla, for at least a year after resigning.
Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the administration, reducing over 200,000 out of 2.3 million federal employees. The Internal Revenue Service is also reducing staff, reaching 25% of its total workforce. The Democratic Party continues to criticize this large-scale restructuring, arguing that it raises constitutional concerns.
Musk has also publicly expressed conflict with Peter Navarro, the White House trade and manufacturing advisor. Navarro is the key architect of the tariff policy and a prominent protectionist economic advisor to President Trump, with clear differences in perspective on trade policy compared to Musk.
Recently, Navarro downplayed Musk during an interview with CNBC, stating that he is 'more of a simple automotive assembler than an operator of a manufacturing company.' In response, Musk vehemently countered on Twitter (X), saying, 'Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks,' and that 'everything he said is false, so ask the fake expert Ron Barah.' Ron Barah is a fictional economist created by Navarro to feature in his book, and Musk used this to ridicule Navarro.
Musk also countered that 'Tesla is the most vertically integrated automotive manufacturer in the United States, with the highest rate of localization of parts,' stating that the labeling as an assembler is entirely inaccurate. The White House has officially declared that it will not intervene in this conflict between the two parties, noting that the exchange of diverse views is itself a strength of a transparent administration.
Public opinion in South Korea is also turning against Musk. Recently, anti-Trump protests took place in over 1,200 locations across all 50 states, during which Musk's resignation was also demanded. Participants criticized policies such as cuts to social security schemes, reductions in public healthcare, and downsizing of the civil service, arguing that they cause significant harm to the public. They pointed out that 'while the market collapses, Trump is playing golf,' highlighting the President's evasion of responsibility.
Amid this political and social pressure, Musk's assets have also plummeted sharply. According to Bloomberg, due to the sharp drop in Tesla's stock price, Musk's assets have fallen below $300 billion. So far this year, he has lost $134.7 billion, and in just two days, on the 3rd and 4th, he lost $31 billion.
Despite various controversies, Musk, in an interview with Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on the 5th, urged that 'the U.S. and Europe must ultimately move toward a tariff-free status,' advocating for free trade. This statement contrasts sharply with the Trump administration's hardline trade policies and is expected to further highlight policy differences with the White House moving forward.