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As the dialogue progresses, insiders conjecture on what Trump’s response might be to Musk’s defiance. With Musk having increasingly ambiguous ties with international stakeholders like China and his dependency on government contracts in the U.S., there is concern over whether Trump could leverage his political power to curb Musk's influence—potentially destabilizing Tesla.
The potential retaliation from Trump raises wider implications about the balance of power between political leaders and influential entrepreneurs in America. Some participants in the conversation argue that Trump's government could indeed take drastic steps like limiting Musk’s ability to operate profitable ventures, depending on how aggressive the former president wishes to be.