Elon Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has reportedly requested US President Donald Trump to reverse the sweeping new tariffs that have shaken global markets. His intervention, however, has so far failed to sway the administration.

Musk publicly criticised White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, one of the chief architects of Trump’s tariff policies. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote: “A PhD in economics from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing”, adding that such credentials “result in the ego problem”. These comments came after Trump announced a potential increase in tariffs on Chinese goods from 34% to 50%, according to The Washington Post.

The billionaire businessman had also shared a video of late economist Milton Friedman on X, where he explained the economic logic behind international trade – using the production of a simple pencil as an example. The economist stressed that free trade is beneficial for all, and tariffs disrupt global cooperation.

While talking to Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Musk advocated for a “zero-tariff situation” between the US and Europe. 

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“At the end of the day, I hope it’s agreed that both Europe and the United States should move ideally, in my view, to a zero-tariff situation. Effectively creating a free-trade zone between Europe and North America,” he said. 

Musk added, “If people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so in my view. This has certainly been my advice to the president.”

This, however, is not the first time that Musk has opposed the tariffs. During the first Trump administration, he filed a lawsuit to overturn the tax on Tesla’s imports from China to the United States, stressing that both countries are essential to the company’s global operations as they are key manufacturing and consumer hubs. 

Musk’s brother and fellow Tesla board member, Kimbal Musk, is also at odds with the Trump administration over tariffs. 

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“Who would have thought that Trump was actually the most high-tax American President in generations,” he wrote on X, adding “Through his tariff strategy, Trump has implemented a structural, permanent tax on the American consumer.”

In a separate post a few hours ago, where Trump shared that China has retaliated by raising its tariffs by 34%, Kimbal wrote, “…Celebrating China’s stock market going down, by causing our own stock market to go down? Maybe this is why Trump brought back the R word.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump has the final say in all the decisions. “The President has put together a remarkable team of highly talented and experienced individuals who bring different ideas to the table, knowing that President Trump is the ultimate decision maker.”

She added, “When he makes a decision, everyone rows in the same direction to execute. That’s why this Administration has done more in two months than the previous Admin did in four years.”