Two top Trump allies are trading barbs over the administration’s approach to international trade.
Tech mogul Elon Musk and Peter Navarro, the president’s senior counselor on trade, have openly feuded with each other over the future of U.S. trade policy. Musk has pushed for low tariffs to encourage international trade, whereas Navarro has argued that high trade barriers are needed to protect domestic industry.
The disagreement grew personal, with Navarro saying Musk is influenced by business interests and Musk calling the trade counselor a “moron.”
“Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false,” Musk posted on X on Tuesday morning in response to Navarro’s contention that Musk’s trade policies are influenced by Tesla’s business needs, Musk’s electric car company.
“Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks,” Musk posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks. <a href="https://twitter.com/IfindRetards?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IfindRetards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RealPNavarro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealPNavarro</a> <a href="https://t.co/gECgtZt5Sc">https://t.co/gECgtZt5Sc</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1909605316121198860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
Musk’s harsh posts came in response to comments Navarro made Monday.
“When it comes to tariffs and trade, we all understand in the White House – and the American people understand – that Elon&#8217;s a car manufacturer. But he&#8217;s not a car manufacturer, he&#8217;s a car assembler in many cases,” Navarro said. “If you go to his Texas plant, a good part of the engines that he gets, which in the EV case [are] the batteries, come from Japan and come from China. The electronics come from Taiwan.”
“What we want — and the difference is in our thinking and Elon&#8217;s on this — is that we want the tires made in Akron. We want the transmissions made in Indianapolis. We want the engines made in Flint and Saginaw. And we want the cars manufactured here,” the trade counselor continued. “With Elon, it’s fine, he’s a car person, that’s what he does. And he wants the cheap foreign parts, and we understand that.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PETER NAVARRO ON ELON MUSK:
“We all understand in the White House (and the American people understand) that Elon&#39;s a car manufacturer. But he&#39;s not a car manufacturer — He&#39;s a car assembler. 
In many cases, if you go to his Texas plant, a good part of the engines that he gets… <a href="https://t.co/mkp1wRGcvX">pic.twitter.com/mkp1wRGcvX</a>
&mdash; Ron Pragides  (@mrp) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrp/status/1909414607741243710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
Musk on Monday shared a video of the free-market economist Milton Friedman explaining how international trade has led to more affordable products – in Friedman’s example, a pencil.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/azqwPMa0om">pic.twitter.com/azqwPMa0om</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1909169096391811304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
The feud started after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs against dozens of countries last week, including close American allies and nations with relatively low tariff barriers against the United States, such as Israel and South Korea. The announcement presaged days of chaos in stock trading, but markets began to steady after the White House signaled it was willing to negotiate with countries to lower or avoid the tariffs announced last week.

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‘Truly A Moron’: Top Trump Allies Elon Musk, Peter Navarro Trade Shots On Tariffs

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‘Truly A Moron’: Top Trump Allies Elon Musk, Peter Navarro Trade Shots On Tariffs