Elon Musk is not exactly known for keeping his thoughts to himself. If you’ve spent any time on X lately, you know the vibe. But things shifted from memes to "real world" impact faster than a Model S Plaid hits sixty. Basically, the narrative has flipped. It’s no longer just about Tesla surviving; it's about what happens when the CEO of the world's most valuable car company has a direct line to the Oval Office.
Elon Musk says the Trump administration will chase Tesla's adversaries, and honestly, the industry is freaking out.
Is it just talk? Maybe. But if you look at the 2026 landscape, the "adversaries" list is long. It includes federal regulators who spent years breathing down Tesla’s neck, legacy Detroit automakers trying to pivot to electric, and foreign companies leaning on Chinese supply chains.
The DOGE Effect: Clearing the Path
The biggest hammer in Musk’s belt right now isn’t a new factory. It’s the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). People thought it was a joke because of the name, but the reality is looking a lot more like a wrecking ball. Musk has been very vocal about how "the bureaucracy is choking America."
In practice, this means the very agencies that were investigating Tesla are now finding themselves under the microscope. We’re talking about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the EPA. For years, these guys were the "adversaries" Musk felt were holding back Full Self-Driving (FSD).
Now? The tables have turned.
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Instead of Tesla answering questions about Autopilot crashes, the Trump administration is looking at "efficiency" within those agencies. It’s a classic Musk move: the best defense is a massive, federally-funded offense. By dismantling the regulatory hurdles that slowed Tesla down, the administration is effectively "chasing" the people who Musk felt were unfairly targeting him.
Legacy Auto and the "Green New Scam"
Let's talk about the traditional car guys. Ford, GM, Stellantis—they’ve spent billions trying to catch up to Tesla. They relied on federal subsidies and strict emissions mandates to justify the cost.
Trump basically deleted those on day one.
When Elon Musk says the Trump administration will chase Tesla's adversaries, he’s also talking about the competitive landscape. Trump’s move to nix EV mandates and roll back the Biden-era fuel economy standards is a gut punch to legacy automakers.
Think about it. These companies are now stuck. They’ve retooled plants for EVs that the government no longer insists people buy. Tesla, meanwhile, has higher margins and can survive without the $7,500 tax credit. In fact, Musk has said he wants the credit gone. Why? Because it hurts his competitors more than it hurts him.
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- Tax Credits: Removing them "bankrupts" the margin-thin EV startups.
- Emissions Rules: Scrapping them removes the pressure for rivals to innovate quickly.
- Infrastructure: Freezing charging station funds leaves non-Tesla networks in the dust.
Tariffs and the Foreign Front
The "adversaries" aren't just in D.C. or Detroit. They’re in Beijing and Berlin.
Trump’s 25% tariff on all imported automobiles—and potentially higher for those with Chinese components—is a massive wall. Musk has had a complicated relationship with China, but in the U.S. market, these tariffs act as a protective shield for Tesla.
If you're a rival trying to import a cheap, high-quality EV to compete with a Model 3, you're toast. The "chase" here is economic. By making it nearly impossible for foreign rivals to price-match Tesla in America, the administration is clearing the field.
The Conflict of Interest Question
You can't ignore the elephant in the room. Critics are screaming about conflicts of interest. And they have a point. Musk is a "Special Government Employee," a role that lets him advise on policy while still running Tesla and SpaceX.
Democratic lawmakers, like Representative Greg Casar, have pointed out that investigations into Tesla’s labor practices and safety records mysteriously stalled or vanished once the new administration took over. Is it a "purge" of bad bureaucrats or a targeted hit on Musk’s critics? Depends on who you ask.
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The legal battles are already piling up. Organizations like American Oversight are filing FOIA requests to see if Musk’s "efficiency" suggestions just happen to benefit his own bottom line. But for now, the momentum is on Musk's side.
What This Means for You
If you’re a consumer or an investor, the world looks very different in 2026 than it did two years ago. The "chase" is changing the market in real-time.
- Price Volatility: Expect the price of non-Tesla EVs to stay high as subsidies vanish.
- FSD Expansion: With fewer regulatory roadblocks, expect Tesla to push FSD updates faster, for better or worse.
- The ICE Comeback: Legacy brands are shifting back to Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) because the EV mandates are gone. This means less competition for Tesla in the pure electric space.
Actionable Insights:
- Watch the Regulators: Keep an eye on the NHTSA’s leadership changes. If they stop "chasing" Tesla, it’s a signal that Musk’s influence is absolute.
- Diversify Auto Holdings: If you’re invested in legacy auto, check their exposure to ICE versus EV. The companies that can pivot back to gas-powered cars quickly are the ones that will survive this policy shift.
- Monitor the 2026 Tariffs: The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and other tariff-related moves will dictate which cars are actually affordable. Assembly in the U.S. is the only way to avoid the price hikes.
Elon Musk isn't just building cars anymore; he's helping rewrite the rules of the game. Whether you call it "dismantling the deep state" or "corporate capture," the result is the same: Tesla’s adversaries are on the defensive.
Next Steps for Savvy Observers:
Evaluate your current vehicle's trade-in value against the new 2026 assembly requirements. If your car wasn't "finally assembled" in the U.S., you might miss out on the new $10,000 interest deduction. Check the VIN of your next potential purchase to ensure it qualifies under the updated federal guidelines.