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Elon Musk and Peter Navarro Clash Over Tesla and Tariffs

Musk labels Navarro a 'moron' in a heated exchange over Tesla's manufacturing practices and Trump's tariff policies, as the White House downplays the dispute.

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Senior trade adviser Peter Navarro speaks next to U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, on the day Trump signs executive orders for reciprocal tariffs, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025.
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Overview

  • Elon Musk criticized Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, calling him a 'moron' and 'dumber than a sack of bricks' over comments about Tesla's manufacturing practices.
  • Navarro described Tesla as a 'car assembler' reliant on foreign parts, which Musk refuted by asserting Tesla's vertical integration and high percentage of U.S.-made components.
  • The feud highlights deeper divisions within Trump's administration over aggressive tariff policies, which Musk opposes in favor of free trade and reduced tariffs.
  • The White House downplayed the dispute, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterizing it as a normal internal debate, stating 'boys will be boys.'
  • Trump's sweeping tariff plan, which includes a baseline 10% tariff on imports, has sparked economic uncertainty, with Musk privately lobbying against the measures.