At an event Saturday hosted by right-wing Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Musk said, "Both Europe and the United States should move, ideally, in my view, to a zero-tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America."
Musk, whose view on trade relations with Europe stands in stark contrast to the policies implemented by Trump, has a vested interest in the region. Tesla has a large car factory outside Berlin, and the European Commission has previously turned to SpaceX for launches.
Even before the tariffs, Tesla's business was faltering. On Wednesday, the company reported a 13% year-over-year decline in first-quarter deliveries, missing analysts' estimates. That report landed two days after Tesla's stock price wrapped up its worst quarter since 2022.