FILE - Elon Musk speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Elon Musk is going to war over tariffs. The billionaire Tesla boss slammed White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, calling him a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks.”
Navarro appeared on CNBC and claimed Musk was just a “car assembler,” not a true manufacturer. He pointed to Tesla’s import of parts like batteries.
Musk fired back on X, saying, “Navarro is truly a moron. Tesla has the most American-made cars.”
He cited a 2023 Cars.com study that showed Tesla had four of the top five American-made vehicles. Though the study included Canada, Musk argued Tesla still topped the list.
Musk has voiced growing frustration with Trump’s tariff policies. Last week, Trump imposed the highest foreign tariffs in nearly 100 years. A 10% base rate hit nearly every country. Some nations will face even higher levies starting Wednesday.
Despite his clear opposition, Musk has not directly criticized Trump. Instead, he reposted a Milton Friedman video to highlight the complexity of supply chains.
Over the weekend, Musk mocked Navarro’s Harvard education. Navarro fired back on Fox News, saying Musk is only protecting his business.
“Elon sells cars,” Navarro said. “He’s just defending his own interests.”
The feud isn’t new. Tension has been brewing between Musk and the Trump team. Navarro’s remarks poured gasoline on that fire.
During a virtual chat with Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Musk called for a zero-tariff agreement between Europe and the U.S. He proposed creating a free trade zone and allowing workers to move freely between the regions.
Musk said, “At the end of the day, Europe and America should move to zero tariffs.”
He also claimed he advised Trump directly on this plan.
Trump’s tariff blitz on “Liberation Day” triggered market panic. The Dow dropped over 1,000 points. A 25% tariff now affects foreign-made vehicles, which make up half of U.S. car sales.
Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein also lost tariff exemptions after Trump closed a key trade loophole.
In a podcast with Joe Rogan last year, Musk warned about the unpredictability of tariffs. He explained how sudden changes disrupt Tesla’s global supply chain.
“Companies want to build in America,” Musk said. “But you can’t flip a switch overnight.”
Navarro remains firm. He said the tariffs are about restoring balance and punishing bad actors. He played a key role in drafting Trump’s economic strategy.
Still, Musk’s influence within the administration is significant. He leads DOGE, the government’s cost-cutting arm.
Asked about the Musk-Navarro drama, press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed it off. “Whatever,” she told CNBC. “We’re transparent. Disagreements happen.”
As tariffs spook Wall Street, Musk has taken a personal hit. Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index reports he’s lost nearly $50 billion in two weeks.
The feud is far from over. And with global markets shaking, all eyes are on Musk, Navarro, and Trump as the trade war deepens.
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