Elon Musk’s advice on reciprocal taxes has not received a nod from US President Donald Trump.
In a notable move, Elon Musk , head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has directly asked President Donald Trump to reconsider his plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on imported goods. However, according to The Washington Post, Musk’s advice did not receive a nod from the head of the White House.
The newspaper said the disagreement between Mr. Elon Musk and President Trump has become “the most prominent disagreement between the President and one of his closest advisers” since the Donald Trump administration returned to power.
This is not only a confrontation over a specific policy, but also shows signs of a rift within Mr. Trump’s senior advisory group – considered an “elite group” with a significant voice in White House policy making.
Beyond tariffs, Elon Musk is also said to have significant disagreements with other senior officials over visa policies for skilled immigrants, as well as DOGE’s approach to government spending.
These tensions show that Mr. Elon Musk still maintains the same “independent criticism” style as when he was a technology entrepreneur.
Also according to The Washington Post, on April 5, Mr. Elon Musk publicly criticized White House trade advisor Peter Navarro – who played a key role in designing the new tariff policy .
On the social networking platform X, Mr. Elon Musk wrote: “Having a PhD in economics from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing” – a blunt statement that caused much controversy.
Not only opposing current policies, Mr. Elon Musk also made bolder proposals: creating a free trade area between the US and Europe.
“Ultimately, I hope we can agree that both Europe and the US should move towards a zero-tariff zone — that’s my ideal view,” Elon Musk said in an interview over the weekend.
He stressed the desire not only for free trade but also for free movement between the two regions: “I want people to be able to move freely between the United States and Europe, if they want to. That is what I have advised the President.”
Amid speculation about internal conflict within the administration, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt issued a reassuring statement: “President Trump has assembled a team of outstanding, experienced, and diverse individuals. Everyone has an opinion, but the President has the final say.”
“Once a decision is made, everyone is on the same page to implement it. That’s why this administration has accomplished more in the last two months than in the last four years,” she added.
