Elon Musk calls Peter Navarro ‘moron’ and ‘dumber than a sack of bricks’ as tariff feud escalates

WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk fired back at President Donald Trump's top trade advisor, Peter Navarro, calling him a "moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" in a fiery exchange that highlights mounting discord among the president's allies over tariffs.

The feud began after Navarro criticized Musk during a CNBC interview on Monday, April 7, claiming the Tesla CEO is not a car "manufacturer" but a "car assembler" who sources cheap parts from overseas for his vehicles.

Elon Musk fires back at Donald Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro

Appearing on CNBC, Peter Navarro criticized Elon Musk and Tesla's global supply chain: “He’s not a car manufacturer. He’s a car assembler… A good part of the engines — the batteries — come from Japan and China. Electronics come from Taiwan.”

In response to Navarro’s interview, Musk didn’t hold back, calling Trump's senior trade advisor “truly a moron" in a tweet on Tuesday, April 8.

Musk insisted that Navarro’s statements were “demonstrably false”. In another post, he pointed out that Tesla produces the most American-made cars, before adding, “Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”

Later, Musk sarcastically apologized, claiming his comparison was "so unfair to bricks".

In a follow post Musk tweeted, "By any definition whatsoever, Tesla is the most vertically integrated auto manufacturer in America with the highest percentage of US content. Navarro should ask the fake expert he invented, Ron Vara."

Musk recently said that he wants to see a "zero-tariff situation" between the US and Europe.

Navarro addressed Musk’s comments during a Fox News interview on 'Sunday Morning Futures', saying, “It was interesting to hear Elon Musk at the beginning talk about a zero-tariff zone with Europe. He didn’t understand that.”

Navarro further emphasized, Musk "sells cars,” dismissing his remarks as naive, per NBC News.

When asked about a potential rift between the two Trump advisors, Navarro downplayed it, insisting there was "no rift here".

He added, "We don’t mind him saying whatever he wants, but just the American people need to understand that we understand what that’s all about. It’s fine."

Elon Musk and Peter Navarro's feud sparks mixed reactions

As the feud between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro escalated with their tweets and interviews circulating online, many social media users quickly shared their opinions, with some supporting Musk and others disagreeing with the Tesla CEO.

One user said, "Prove it Elon, share with us all the parts of all the tesla models and give the origin of every parts."

Another user shared, "Boo. Navarro is anything but a moron. He is a brilliant man much like you. Clearly you two have a beef."

A commenter suggested, "Elon, you’re a brilliant leader who’s changed the world with your ideas and action. Public spats with Navarro just muddy the waters and distract from your vision. Rise above it. Focus on the big picture. The world’s watching. 🙏"

One person slammed Navarro, "Navarro lost his temper in that interview and responded stupidly. He’s a terrible spokesperson for the administration."

A comment read, "If you two could sort out your differences in private, that would be great. This isn’t helping anyone, especially President Trump."

A user agreed with Musk saying, "So, don't let this go to your head, but I agree with you. It's rare, I know. Navarro is truly stupid beyond words."

Karoline Leavitt addresses Elon Musk and Peter Navarro's feud

When White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the feud between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro on Tuesday, April 8, she told reporters, "These are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and on tariffs. Boys will be boys, and we will let their public sparring continue."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, also weighed in on the dispute during a Senate floor speech. Schumer claimed, "The chaos within the Trump administration was shown a few minutes ago when Elon Musk called Peter Navarro, the chief architect of these tariffs, a moron. That’s Musk’s word. He called him a moron."

Schumer added, "Their plan is so crazy, so controversial, that this administration cannot get its act together with them calling names about each other, to — against one another, about this tariff plan.”

“If this turns out to be an all-out war, I very much doubt Peter is the one who is going to come out on the wrong end of it. I really wish it was not so public and am not sure how exactly it will play out, but I know that the president very much values what Peter did for him," he noted.

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