Seems plausible that Trump/Elon could make many imports from China effectively illegal.
Tesla was importing CATL's LFP prior to the tariff, but recently dropped it altogether after the tariff became effective.
For example, Musk pledged his commitment to China's core socialist values: https://www.mediaite.com/news/elon-musk-signs-letter-pledgin...
Musk advocates for Taiwan's submission to China: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/08/elon-musk...
Musk decried California's covid measures as "fascist": https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/29/21242102/elon-musk-corona...
But praised China because "Shanghai's COVID-19 measures helped lay the foundation for the city's future development" even though they were stricter than California's: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-...
And there's also what he doesn't do.
Musk is very keen on criticizing the US and other governments. But can you find for me a single criticism of the Chinese government from Musk? I'd like to see one.
There's no point trying to be a mind reader. It doesn't matter what he claims to care about. What matters is what he does.
They don't have to, they choose to. Oligarchs usually submit to authoritarians because profit comes before principle. They get their short term gain and others will have to pay the long term cost.