According to foreign media reports, as trade tensions between the EU and the United States continue to escalate, the company led by Elon Musk is facing strict scrutiny from the EU.
EU MP Daniel Freund wrote to the European Commission, requesting a detailed list of funds allocated to companies owned or controlled by Musk over the past five years. The list is said to cover many well-known companies under Musk, such as SpaceX, Tesla, X, xAI and Neuralink.
The scrutiny of Musk’s businesses follows U.S. President Trump’s tariff policy on specific goods from Mexico, Canada and China. Trump’s second round of tariffs will take effect in April and is expected to have an impact on Europe.
According to Reuters, many European companies have not been directly affected in Trump’s first round of tariff policies. However, given its operations in North America, these businesses are actively adjusting their strategies to deal with Trump’s tariff policies. Meanwhile, European companies are preparing for the possible 25% reciprocal tariffs Trump may impose on EU goods.
Investigating the situation of Musk’s companies receiving EU funding seems to be a way for Europe to negotiate on tariffs with the Trump administration.
Daniel Freund commented: “Trump’s MAGA camp, including Musk, has a clear goal to weaken or even destroy the EU. So we should pay close attention to the EU funding provided to them. For me, it’s very clear: The EU should not provide millions of funds to those who intend to destroy it.”
At the same time, Daniel Freund also wants to understand how much advertising costs EU institutions have invested in Musk’s platform. Daniel Freund stressed that it is necessary to find out whether EU funds have flowed into the hands of individuals he believes are trying to undermine EU values and stability. This survey is crucial to ensuring the rational use of EU resources.
Since Musk’s influence has far exceeded that of electric vehicles and rockets, the results of the survey may have far-reaching impacts on EU’s science and technology investment policies, transatlantic relations, and wider discussions on the flow of public funds to Musk.