For Elon Musk, China is, well, complicated. On the one hand, it is a major source of his wealth; on the other, it represents an existential threat to Tesla, as Chinese EVs are reputedly better and much cheaper than his cars. Given Musk’s proximity to Trump, what does this mean for American policy towards China?
You will have noticed that with all of the sound and fury during Trump’s first days in office, very little has been said about China; it is a dog that isn’t barking. That may be due to Musk’s influence. Musk will probably be a voice advocating for some sort of grand bargain involving managed trade, not unrelenting hostility towards the Chinese.
Steve Bannon will not be pleased.