Elon Musk reportedly made the case directly to Trump in a phone call last month that restarting Tesla production would pose little risk to workers — and Trump said he agreed 100 percent (TSLA)

Elon Musk told President Donald Trump during a phone call last month that Tesla should be able to resume manufacturing at its factory in Fremont, California, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

During a call with Trump and other chief executives last month, Tesla's CEO praised the president and made the case for reopening the plant by May 1 or sooner, saying "I do not think it represents a significant risk," according to The Washington Post.

Trump said he agreed with Musk 100%, The Washington Post reported.

The factory has become the source of a heated showdown between Musk and local officials after he confirmed Monday that Tesla had restarted production in defiance of local orders and challenged authorities to arrest him.

"If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me," Musk tweeted.

 

An Alameda County official sent Tesla a letter Monday ordering it to stop operations as workers returned to the factory, as first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, but the factory has remained in operation and officials have yet to take further action.

Trump weighed in publicly on the controversy earlier Tuesday, siding with Musk.

"California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW," Trump tweeted. "It can be done Fast & Safely!"

 

Musk has been extremely critical of state and local shelter-in-place orders meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, calling them "fascist" and saying they are "fundamentally a violation of the Constitution."

Tesla has attempted to restart its operations on multiple occasions in recent weeks despite local orders, and sued Alameda County over the order on Saturday.