Elon Musk hails Xi as ‘great leader’ in glowing Chinese state TV interview
Tesla Inc. chief executive Elon Musk offered high praise for Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him a “great leader” in an interview broadcast Wednesday on state television network CCTV.
Highlighting the nation’s economic development through new buildings and infrastructure, Musk noted that “Under his tenure, China has prospered immensely.” He pointed to street-level progress as clear evidence of growth, adding that “It’s also obvious to see that, just walking around the streets, the increased prosperity of the average Chinese citizen.”
The comments come ahead of an expected White House state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for Xi on Thursday, which Reuters reported Musk is scheduled to attend. The meeting between Xi and Trump represents the second summit this year between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.
Musk also lauded operations at Tesla’s main production hub in Shanghai, describing the local team as “incredibly talented, hardworking and trustworthy.”
He added that “Tesla’s Shanghai factory is a gem and it’s beautiful, actually, if anyone’s ever been there.” Musk had previously brushed aside speculation that Tesla’s operations in China might be spun off prior to a potential merger with SpaceX.
Vehicles produced at the Shanghai plant, Tesla’s largest export center globally, saw August sales of Model 3 and Model Y cars rise 3.6% year-on-year. The figure reflects a sharp deceleration from July, highlighting divergent market conditions across the manufacturer’s primary regions.
