Karoline Leavitt mocked as she brushes off Elon Musk and Peter Navarro tariff feud as ‘boys will be boys’

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House is brushing off a heated and increasingly personal feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made it clear on Tuesday that the administration has no plans to cool tempers, reports Daily Beast.
BREAKING: In a bizarre moment, Karoline Leavitt minimizes a vicious spat in which Elon Musk calls Trump Trade advisor Peter Navarro "dumber than a sack of bricks" and "a moron" with the saying "boys will be boys." Boys affecting 350 million people.pic.twitter.com/CtgSFCri26
— Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) April 8, 2025
White House brushes off verbal brawl between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro
“They are 2 individuals having different views on trade and tariffs. Boys will be boys,” Karoline Leavitt said, brushing off concerns during her daily briefing. “Everyone should be proud that we are the most transparent administration in the history.”
That comment came just hours after Musk posted a barrage of insults aimed at Navarro on X (formerly Twitter), calling him “dumber than a sack of bricks” and using a variation of an offensive slur, referring to him as “Peter Retarrdo.”
The billionaire also called Navarro a “moron”, continuing a back-and-forth that’s gotten increasingly personal.
Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2025
The public beef ignited last week after Musk criticized Trump’s proposed tariffs, particularly the ones aimed at European imports. Navarro, widely seen as the architect of the aggressive trade agenda, fired back by mocking Musk’s business model and dismissing him as a “car assembler” looking to cut costs with cheap parts.
PETER NAVARRO ON ELON MUSK:
— Ron Pragides (@mrp) April 8, 2025
“We all understand in the White House (and the American people understand) that Elon's a car manufacturer. But he's not a car manufacturer — He's a car assembler.
In many cases, if you go to his Texas plant, a good part of the engines that he gets… pic.twitter.com/mkp1wRGcvX
Musk didn’t mince words when clapping back on X, taking a shot at Navarro’s credentials. He wrote, “PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing.”
Things had seemed to quiet down for a bit, but on Tuesday, Musk reignited the fire with a fresh round of jabs aimed squarely at Navarro. “Tesla has the most American-made cars,” Musk posted. “Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”

Despite the harsh words, Leavitt spun the situation as proof of a healthy, open administration. “I think it also speaks to the president’s willingness to hear from all sides,” she said, adding, “He has people at the highest levels of this government in this White House that have very diverse opinions on very diverse issues but the president takes all opinions in mind and he makes the best decision based on the best interests of the American public.”
Internet reacts to Karoline Leavitt's statement on Musk-Navarro feud
Karoline Leavitt, a senior adviser to Donald Trump’s campaign, stirred up controversy this week by brushing off the increasingly public spat between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro with a casual “boys will be boys.” The comment quickly ignited debate across social media.

One user wrote, “Boys will be boys. Trump has turned the world into a boy's high school locker room,” while another argued, “Calling them boys isn't a really good defense as she thinks it is.”
Boys will be boys.🙄#Trump has turned the world into a boy's high school locker room. 🤡
— Peter Hopey (@phopey) April 8, 2025
Calling them boys isn't a really good defense as she thinks it is.
— Lucian Vale (@PowerRhetoric) April 8, 2025
“Musk calls Navarro a ‘moron,’ Leavitt shrugs—‘boys will be boys.’ Too bad these boys are playing chicken with the global economy,” one user commented.
Musk calls Navarro a “moron,” Leavitt shrugs—“boys will be boys.” Too bad these boys are playing chicken with the global economy.
— AnatolijUkraine (@AnatoliUkraine) April 8, 2025
Others used the moment to critique Trump’s decision-making circle. “She’s right Trump does listen to everybody, but he doesn’t take the best advice. He takes the worst advice literally and uses it,” a user claimed.
She’s right Trump does listen to Everybody, but he doesn’t take the best advice. He takes the worst advice literally and uses it.
— TwiterWasBetter (@America4Life72) April 8, 2025
One sharp comment aimed Leavitt directly, “Karoline Leavitt is giving blondes a really bad name. I take that personally.”
Karoline Leavitt is giving blondes a really bad name. I take that personally.
— Lee Baxter ♀️☮🟧 (@MLeeBaxter1) April 8, 2025
“We need men, not boys in the White House,” a user wrote.
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