Tesla shares were up 2.5 per cent in midday trading. Investors have expressed concern that Elon Musk's political activities, including plans to form a third party, distract him from managing Tesla at a critical time for the company.

After agreeing to some concessions, Musk got the OK from the West Lake Hills City Council to keep the fencing around his local home — with some changes.

The world's richest man isn't unfamiliar with raking in plenty of cash — but he's also earned the ire of some residents in his Austin-area neighborhood for some permit violations on one of his boujee Texas mansions.

Texas legislators have passed a flurry of bills favored by representatives and lobbyists for Musk's companies.

But, this week, Musk is about to square off against a far different adversary: his neighbors.

How the billionaire businessman’s lobbyists helped him get so many state Legislature wins is something of a mystery.

While Elon Musk took Washington, D.C., by storm, his company representatives and lobbyists were also notching up big political wins in Texas.

President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on 14 countries. In other Trump administration news: The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will no longer be forced to carry out a large reduction in workforce, unlike other agencies. Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.