Elon Musk has called President Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” over comments made about Tesla. The feud began when Navarro described Tesla as a “car assembler” rather than a manufacturer due to its use of foreign-made parts.
Background
During an appearance on CNBC, Navarro discussed Trump’s tariff policy, stating, “If you look at our auto industry, right, we’re in assembly line for German engines and transmissions right now. We’re going to get to a place where America makes stuff again, real wages are going to be up, profits are going to be up.” He emphasized the need for parts to be made in the US in the future.
Musk’s Response
Musk countered Navarro’s claims on his social media platform X, posting a link to a 2023 article by Kelley Blue Book, which cited findings that Tesla vehicles had the most parts produced in the US.
He wrote:-
“By any definition whatsoever, Tesla is the most vertically integrated auto manufacturer in America with the highest percentage of US content.”-
“Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false.”-
“Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
Escalating Tensions
The public feud escalated over the weekend, with Musk questioning Navarro’s qualifications and Harvard education, saying, “A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem.” Navarro responded by accusing Musk of trying to protect his business interests by opposing Trump’s tariff approach.