Republican and Democratic leaders on the US House of Representatives Select Committee on China warned on February 25 that Beijing could try to use billionaire Elon Musk to win favorable American policies, and that Washington should oppose any such efforts.
Republican committee chairman John Moolenaar and Democratic ranking member Raja Krishnamurthy said they believe the Chinese Communist Party wants to use U.S. business leaders, including Mr. Musk, who has commercial interests in China, to advance its goals in talks with Washington.
“To Elon Musk’s question, I believe the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) will try to use any opportunity,” Mr. Moolenaar said.
“People will look for that and make sure his path is one that doesn’t influence China policy? “I believe it is,” Mr. Moolenaar said. Asked whether Congress has a role in preventing Beijing from negotiating with the White House through Mr. Musk, Mr. Musk and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington said China welcomes “mutually beneficial cooperation” with “people from all walks of life in the United States.”
“We are pleased to see foreign-funded enterprises investing and setting up businesses in China, deepening their presence in the Chinese market, and sharing development opportunities,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said in an email.
China has several urgent priorities. More than a month into his second term, US President Donald Trump has announced an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods, called for greater restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States, and nominated Chinese hardliners to key positions.
Mr. Musk, the world’s richest man and among Trump’s biggest donors in the 2024 election, could be attractive to Beijing as a potential conduit for Mr. Trump, as he has become one of the president’s closest White House advisers.
Mr. Trump has tapped Mr. Musk to lead a signature effort to radically reduce the size of the federal government.
The billionaire has maintained relationships with senior Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, for years.
China could also provide what Mr. Musk needs. His biggest business interest in China is Tesla, the electric car company he co-founded and leads as CEO. Tesla delivered 36.7 percent of its cars to customers in China in 2024, its second-largest market worldwide based on sales.
But as domestic electric vehicle makers have grown, Tesla’s market share in China has fallen and it has faced regulatory roadblocks to rolling out its self-driving features that could boost sales, with regulators allowing Chinese companies to move forward.
Besides Tesla, several of Musk’s other ventures, including commercial rocket and satellite company SpaceX and X, a social media platform that is banned in China, are considered security risks by Beijing.
Beijing saw Mr. Musk as a way to sidestep China hawks on Trump’s national security team, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Mr. Krishnamurthy told the Brookings event.
“They see him as an asset to them in any kind of negotiation, a way to bypass Rubio, a way to bypass Waltz, a way to bypass those who seem less friendly to them on their issues,” Mr. Krishnamurthy said.
“I hope the president listens very carefully to everyone.”
The lawmakers did not describe the evidence supporting their views.
The White House has said that Mr. Musk has no decision-making authority within the Trump administration and that his efficiency initiative is not directly related to U.S. foreign policy.
Mr. Trump’s praise of Mr. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised concerns that he could be making a grand bargain with Beijing by sidelining Taiwan. China claims the island as its territory, and Taipei has historically considered Washington its most important patron, a major thorn in China’s side.
Mr. Krishnamurthy said that Mr. Trump could be allowed to negotiate core U.S. interests, such as support for Taiwan or freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, in exchange for trade benefits.
Mr. Moolenaar said that he had confidence in Mr. Trump’s national security team and “limited expectations” for what could be achieved by negotiating with China, given Beijing’s failure to deliver on past promises.
