The tweet caught a lot of attention as many people quickly called Musk out for what they saw as mixed signals – supporting a policy in Argentina that seems opposite to the U.S. import tariffs promoted by Donald Trump, whom Musk has also publicly supported.

For instance, one user tweeted, “You supported the presidential campaign of the guy advocating for the largest tariff hike in modern U.S. history, lmao.” Another wrote, “Import taxes = tariffs. You support cutting them elsewhere and raising them here? Shameful hypocrisy.” Alex Cole added to the discourse, writing, “So removing tariffs is a good move and Donald Trump adding tariffs is also a good move? Bizarro world.”

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Different Countries, Different Needs?

Not everyone saw it as straight-up hypocrisy. Some X users argued that Musk’s take could be valid if viewed in the context of Argentina’s economy compared to the U.S. 

Argentina is dealing with hyperinflation and a major recession, so reducing import taxes might be a much-needed lifeline to help people afford basic goods. Dan Victor, a CFA, commented, “It’s different for the world’s largest economy compared to one suffering from a deep recession and hyperinflation.”

Another user pointed out that different countries might use different tools for different reasons. “Start by studying comparative economic policy. Then, once you understand that two completely different countries/economies implementing different policies is normal, this should make a little more sense.”

While some felt Musk was inconsistent, others believed his opinion could make sense given the drastically different economic situations of Argentina and the United States. The U.S. has a massive, stable economy, whereas Argentina is struggling to stabilize itself amid economic turmoil.

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