Musk Says
He Hopes Europe and U.S. Move to a ‘Zero-Tariff Situation’
The
billionaire adviser to the Trump administration appeared to part ways with the
president in a videoconference appearance with Italy’s far-right League party.
Emma Bubola
By Emma
Bubola
Reporting
from Rome
April 5,
2025
Only three
days after President Trump announced sweeping tariffs, including a 20 percent
tariff on goods from the European Union, Elon Musk said on Saturday that he
hoped that Europe and the United States moved “to a zero-tariff situation,
effectively creating a free-trade zone.”
Mr. Musk
made the remarks during a videoconference appearance with Italy’s far-right
League party in Florence. They came after the tech billionaire turned
presidential confidant had stayed largely silent about Mr. Trump’s tariffs.
During Mr.
Trump’s first term, Mr. Musk had said there should be “no tariffs at all either
way” between the United States and Britain.
Mr. Musk
also said that he hoped that the United States and Europe could “establish a
very close partnership,” a statement that contrasted with the contempt members
of Mr. Trump’s administration have shown for Europe, and statements by Mr.
Trump himself, who claimed the European Union was created to “screw” America.
He added that he wished there were “more freedom of people to move between
Europe and North America.”
Mr. Musk’s
appearance at the League’s meeting, in which he warned of the dangers of
censorship and mass immigration, came as he continued to use his influence to
bolster far-right forces across Europe.
Just a day
earlier, Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump had voiced support for Marine Le Pen, the
French far-right leader, who was convicted this week on embezzlement charges
and disqualified from running for public office. Earlier this year, Mr. Musk
publicized the German far-right Alternative for Germany party and weighed into
Italy’s immigration debate, prompting the country’s president to rebuke him.
On Saturday,
he appeared at the party conference with Matteo Salvini, the leader of the
League party. During his brief intervention, Mr. Musk also promoted the
activities of his cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, supported
Mr. Trump’s position on the war in Ukraine and attacked what he called the
overregulation of the European Union.
Emma Bubola
is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário