The tech boss has been speaking amid continued tariffs introduced by President Trump
Elon Musk has been discussing his hopes for ‘zero tariffs’ between the US and Europe, which goes against measures implemented by President Donald Trump.
Earlier this week, President Trump delivered a powerful speech in the Rose Garden of the White House, marking ‘Liberation Day.’ He unveiled plans to impose new tariffs, not just on the nation’s trading partners, but on countries worldwide, as part of his bold strategy to break the U.S. free from its reliance on foreign goods.
China, Mexico, Canada, and the European Union have found themselves at the heart of the escalating trade war, following Trump’s decision to levy a 25% tax hike on many of their goods entering the U.S. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk may lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it doesn’t mean he sees eye-to-eye with the president on every issue.
The tariffs imposed on the European Union appear to be where Trump and Musk are at odds, with Musk recently expressing his hope for a ‘zero-tariff’ future between the U.S. and Europe.
In a video-link interview with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, Musk shared his vision: “Ultimately, I hope we can reach an agreement that both Europe and the U.S. move towards a zero-tariff situation, creating a free-trade zone between Europe and North America. That’s my hope, and I also believe there should be more freedom for people to move between Europe and North America. If someone wants to work in Europe or America, they should be free to do so. That’s the advice I’ve given to the president.”
However, when addressing the nation on Wednesday (April 2), President Trump stood firm, reiterating that his tariff strategy is in the best interest of the United States.
In a bold address, President Trump declared: “This is Liberation Day. We’ve been waiting for this moment, and April 2, 2025, will be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America reclaimed its destiny, and the day we began to ‘Make America Wealthy Again.'” He went on to say, “For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, and plundered by nations far and near, by both friends and foes alike.”
Trump reflected on the lost ‘American Dream,’ a vision that’s no longer widely spoken of, before announcing the implementation of ‘reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world.’
“They do it to us, and now we’re doing it to them. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.”
