Musk & Rubio Clash, ‘Trade War’ Deepens: Trump’s First 100 Days
As the U.S. navigated the turbulent waters of Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, tensions flared between business leaders and policymakers. Among the most high-profile clashes was a public feud between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and Republican Senator Marco Rubio over trade policy, signaling deeper divisions in the administration’s economic strategy. Musk vs. Rubio: A Collision Over Trade Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, had been an advocate for open markets, frequently voicing concerns over protectionist trade policies. In contrast, Rubio, a staunch supporter of Trump’s economic nationalism, championed tougher trade measures aimed at curbing what he called “China’s economic aggression.” Their dispute came to a head when Musk criticized the administration’s newly imposed tariffs on electric vehicle components, arguing they would hinder innovation and hurt American manufacturers more than foreign competitors. Rubio fired back, accusing Musk of prioritizing corporate...