SpaceX, Tesla Founder Elon Musk Tweets Support For President Trump’s Tariffs, “Just Want A Fair Outcome”

By Zach Clark // March 9, 2018

MUSK: We raised this with the prior administration and nothing happened

ABOVE VIDEO: Trump cites Elon Musk’s support for steel, aluminum tariffs.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk tweeted his support for President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign imports of aluminum and steel on Thursday.

President Trump has been vocal in his stance for fair trade and Musk echoed that point when it comes to cars.

The 2017 Space Coast Daily Person of the Year, Musk, stressed the importance of “equal and fair rules” when it comes to American-made cars and China-made cars.

Do you think the US & China should have equal & fair rules for cars? Meaning, same import duties, ownership constraints & other factors.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2018

Musk added an example where an American made car shipped over to China is hit with 25% tax and when a car made in China comes over to the U.S. it is only charged 2.5%.

For example, an American car going to China pays 25% import duty, but a Chinese car coming to the US only pays 2.5%, a tenfold difference

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2018

Also, no US auto company is allowed to own even 50% of their own factory in China, but there are five 100% China-owned EV auto companies in the US

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2018

I am against import duties in general, but the current rules make things very difficult. It’s like competing in an Olympic race wearing lead shoes.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2018

We raised this with the prior administration and nothing happened. Just want a fair outcome, ideally where tariffs/rules are equally moderate. Nothing more. Hope this does not seem unreasonable.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2018

President Trump also praised Musk and “rich people who love rockets” when speaking during a Cabinet Meeting on Thursday that was open to the media for the opening portion of the meeting.

“Many of these jobs we’re doing are privately financed. We are letting them use the Kennedy Space Center for a fee and rich guys love rocket ships and thats good. That’s better than us paying for them. If the government paid for it, it would 40-50 times the amount of money.

“We are really at the forefront and nobody is doing what we are doing.”

Trump added that he was amazed when he saw the Falcon Heavy launch.

“When the rocket boosters came back down, to me, that was more amazing than watching the rocket go up. Nobody has seen that before. They are saving the boosters when they come back down and they landed so beautifully. We are bringing that space flight back.”

Trump said he would sign controversial tariffs on imports of aluminum and steel Thursday, but also stated there could be exemptions for “real friends” abroad who treat the U.S. fairly.