Technically heavy Nasdaq's composite index and the broad S&P 500 index are both down half an hour after opening, down 0.3 and 0.1 percent respectively. The Dow Jones industrial index goes in the opposite direction, up 0.2 percent.
The background is the criticism that Elon Musk, former advisor to Trump and leader of the newly established efficiency organization Doge, has directed against Trump's proposal for the state budget. The proposal includes, among other things, reduced subsidies for both purchases and manufacturing of electric cars.
Musk has called the budget "insane". Trump says that Musk without subsidies would need to "go home to South Africa" and suggests in social media posts that Doge should investigate Tesla.
According to sources for the news agency Bloomberg, Musk himself will take over the responsibility for Tesla's sales in the USA and Europe, which is the company's weakest market at present.
