Elon Musk called Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro “truly a moron” regarding US tariffs. Navarro criticized Musk as a “car assembler” who depended on imports. Musk defended Tesla’s US-produced cars.
Billionaire Elon Musk attacked President Donald Trump’s senior trade advisor Peter Navarro as “truly a moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” on Tuesday amid an escalating rift over the US tariff policy that has shaken the world.
The heated public exchange followed after Navarro referred to the Tesla CEO and self-proclaimed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head as “not a car maker” but “a car assembler” who depends on imported components.
Musk, the richest individual in the world, has before indicated his opposition to the president’s new import tariffs that have shaken markets.
“Navarro is actually a moron. What he’s stating here is factually false,” Musk tweeted on his X social network, over a video of Navarro stating that Tesla imported batteries, electronics, and tyres and that Musk “wants the cheap foreign parts.”
Musk doubled down in a series of other posts, stating that “Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
Musk also referred to him as “Peter Retarrdo” and stated Navarro “ought to go ask the fake expert he created, Ron Vara” — a reference to a made-up pundit Navarro cited in a series of books and a policy memo, employing an anagram of his name.
The South African billionaire recently supported the concept of a free-trade zone between North America and Europe — a desire contrary to Trump’s signature tariffs. The US president has excluded any timeout in his belligerent posture even after China’s retaliatory actions and indications of criticism from within his traditionally supportive Republican Party.
However, there have also been mixed signals from within the White House itself. A veteran China hawk, Navarro has been one of the most vocal hardliners on tariffs and directly attacked Musk himself in an interview with CNBC.
When it comes to tariffs and trade, we all know in the White House, and the American people know, that Elon’s a car maker. But he’s not a car maker — he’s a car assembler in many instances,” Navarro said.
