Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sharply criticized Peter Navarro, the senior White House trade advisor, calling him “truly a moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” following Navarro’s recent remarks about Tesla’s manufacturing practices.
The tension stems from Navarro’s claim that Tesla is “not a car manufacturer” but merely “a car assembler.” He argued that the electric vehicle company relies heavily on imported components such as batteries, electronics, and tires, suggesting that Musk supports the use of “cheap foreign parts” instead of contributing to U.S. manufacturing.
In response, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter), posting a video clip of Navarro’s comments alongside a pointed retort: “Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
This exchange highlights the growing rift between Musk and the Trump administration, particularly regarding President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff policy. Despite Musk’s concerns over these tariffs, he has maintained ties with the administration while advocating for more open trade between North America and Europe—a stance that contrasts sharply with Trump’s protectionist approach.
Despite increasing criticism from some Republican circles and retaliatory actions from China, President Trump has remained steadfast in his tariff policies, refusing to roll back the measures.