After experiencing a drop in sales and its worst day on the stock market in five years on Tuesday, Tesla received a ringing endorsement from President Donald Trump, who took to Truth Social to pledge his "support for Elon Musk," promising to buy "a brand new Tesla."
Trump followed up this announcement by implementing a global 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports on Wednesday. While the president's social media posts may be pro-Tesla, his trade policies are not.
In an unsigned letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Tesla said Trump's trade war would have "disproportionate impacts" on the manufacturer's business. The Model Y, for instance, weighs almost 4,400 pounds and is composed largely of steel and aluminum. The Cybertruck, meanwhile, relies on Finnish suppliers for its exterior stainless steel panels.
