Elon Musk says he warned Trump against tariffs, which U.S. manufacturers blame for a turn to more offshoring and diminishing American factory jobs

Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk attempted to persuade President Trump against implementing tariffs, arguing they distort markets and could lead to a recession, which has implications for U.S. manufacturers facing industry challenges linked to these levies [1][2][3][4]. Group 1: Impact of Tariffs on Manufacturing - U.S. manufacturing has contracted for nine consecutive months as reported by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), with declines in new orders, supplier deliveries, and employment attributed to tariffs [5]. - Manufacturers are experiencing labor cuts and are shifting towards overseas production due to the tariff environment, contrary to the intended goal of reshoring American jobs [4][6]. - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a loss of 6,000 manufacturing jobs in October, contributing to a total of 59,000 manufacturing jobs lost since the initiation of tariffs in April [6]. Group 2: Manufacturer Sentiment - Some manufacturers have indicated that the tariff environment has led to permanent changes in their operations, including staff reductions and increased offshore manufacturing [6]. - The sentiment among manufacturers is that tariffs have exacerbated business slowdowns and labor tightening, leading to a reevaluation of operational strategies [5][6].