U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns that China may attempt to use Elon Musk’s business interests to influence Washington. Republican John Moolenaar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi of the House’s select committee on China believe Beijing sees Musk as a conduit to President Donald Trump, given Musk’s role as a top donor and close White House adviser.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), has significant commercial ties with China, which accounted for 36.7% of Tesla’s deliveries last year. However, Tesla faces increasing competition from domestic Chinese automakers and regulatory challenges. China may offer Musk incentives in exchange for influence, lawmakers suggest.
Additionally, Beijing reportedly views Musk as a way to bypass China hawks in Trump’s administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. With Trump imposing new tariffs and investment restrictions on China, lawmakers fear Beijing could exploit Musk’s access to Trump to negotiate favorable terms.
Musk’s ventures beyond Tesla, including SpaceX and social media platform X, are also considered security risks by Beijing. While Musk has had past interactions with senior Chinese officials, the White House insists he holds no decision-making authority in the Trump administration.
Concerns are mounting over Trump’s stance on China, particularly regarding Taiwan and trade negotiations. Krishnamoorthi warned that Trump might compromise key U.S. interests in potential talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Moolenaar expressed confidence in Trump’s national security team but remained skeptical about China’s commitment to past agreements.
As China navigates strained U.S. relations, Musk’s business stakes in the country raise questions about whether Beijing could leverage him to secure diplomatic advantages.