Kimbal Musk, younger brother of DOGE head Elon Musk, criticized President Donald Trump’s tariff policies on Monday, describing them as a “structural, permanent tax on the American consumer.”
In a post on X, the restaurateur and entrepreneur warned that Trump’s approach to tariffs would ultimately harm US consumers through higher prices, even if the policy succeeded in bringing manufacturing jobs back to American shores.
“Even if he is successful in bringing jobs on shore through the tariff tax, prices will remain high and the tax on consumption will remain the form of higher prices because we are simply not as good at making all things,” Musk wrote.
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The criticism comes during a week of market volatility triggered by Trump’s tariff announcements, with Tesla, where Kimbal serves as a board member, seeing its stock down 34% this year amid broader market concerns.
The public criticism highlights growing tensions within Trump’s business community allies over his trade policies. Elon, who serves as a close advisor to Trump on government efficiency, was himself involved in a separate spat with Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro over the weekend.
Kimbal, who co-founded restaurant chain The Kitchen and has invested in sustainable food systems and urban farming ventures, has taken a different political path from his brother, contributing to the Libertarian National Committee while Elon has become Trump’s most prominent financial backer.
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