Musk Calls Trump's Tariff Architect 'Dumber Than a Sack of Bricks'
Peter Navarro, then Director of the White House National Trade Council, addresses the Oval Office, March 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of the White House. Public domain.
A full-blown, high-profile showdown between two of U.S. President Donald Trump's most prominent allies is spilling out into the open — on cable news, social media, and in Trump's very own house. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla® and Head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is feuding with Trump's top trade advisor, Peter Navarro.
Insults have been traded, and lines have been drawn. But this isn't just two egos clashing. It's a battle over policy and who really has the president's ear — all playing out as global markets reel from Trump's sweeping new tariffs.
Setting the Stage: Trump's Tariffs Rattle the Room
President Donald Trump's recently announced "Liberation Day" tariffs slapped new levies on over 180 countries, roiling the global economy. Stocks have dipped, CEOs are rattled, and even top Trump donors like Bill Ackman are calling for a "timeout" before the country walks into what he warned could be an "economic nuclear winter," as reported by The Times.
While many of Trump's advisors are toeing the line, Musk is not among them. The Tesla boss has long advocated for free trade and even suggested a "zero-tariff" zone between the U.S. and Europe during a speech in Italy, as reported by The Hill.
Elon Musk, 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley. Public domain.
Musk has reportedly posted videos of Milton Friedman promoting market freedom, criticized Trump's tariff playbook, and warned investors that his own company could suffer, The Times reports.
Navarro, a long-time economic nationalist and Trump's architect of the current tariff policy, hasn't taken kindly to Musk's objections.
The "Car Assembler" Remark Heard Round the Beltway
During a CNBC interview, Navarro dismissed Musk's critiques with a jab that landed hard, saying, "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," as reported by NBC News.
Navarro's comments were a shot at Tesla's global supply chain. Navarro argued that Musk is akin to a car salesman and accused the company of relying on cheap foreign-made parts from Japan and Taiwan. "We want them to come here and with Elon, it's fine. He's a car man. He's a car person. That's what he does. And he wants the cheap foreign parts. And we understand that, but we want 'em home."
In many ways, Navarro's words were a blow to Musk's carefully cultivated image as a tech innovator. Musk responded online with his characteristic fire. According to NBC News, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), "What he says here is demonstrably false." He added that Tesla "has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks." A sarcastic apology, posted later, said the comparison was "was so unfair to bricks."
Who Has Trump's Ear Now?
Despite the insults, both Musk and Navarro are downplaying the clash between them. When asked about Musk, Navarro said in an interview with Fox News, "there's "no rift here," NBC News reports. 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."
Moreover, the White House has characterized the feud as "boys will be boys," with Karoline Leavitt saying, "These are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and on tariffs ... and we will let their public sparring continue," as reported by BBC.
But behind the scenes, the power dynamics might be shifting. Navarro has been a Trump loyalist for years and quite literally went to jail for him; he served four months in prison after refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House January 6 committee.
Meanwhile, Musk has become indispensable in his own right. As head of DOGE, he's slashing spending and reshaping federal workflows. Trump has publicly stated that he wants Musk to stay on "as long as possible," according to MSN.
But multiple sources suggest a divide is growing between Trump's protectionist camp — Navarro, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and others — and those urging a more flexible, market-friendly path, like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and now, Musk.
Complicating matters is that Musk was not officially appointed to his position, and due to the limits on temporary government employees, he is set to depart in a few weeks. This could ultimately leave Navarro with the last word.
More Than Just Tariffs: A Philosophical War
The real fight between Musk and Navarro isn't personal — it's ideological. Navarro believes in bringing every part of the manufacturing process back to American soil. Musk believes in vertical integration and lean global supply chains. One wants tariffs as a permanent policy. The other sees them as a short-term mistake.
Both men have Trump's attention. But only one can win the argument — and shape the future of the administration's economic strategy. And as for Trump? So far, he's letting the gladiators fight it out.
References: Musk labels Trump trade adviser 'moron' over Tesla comments | Musk, Navarro tangle on tariffs | Elon Musk's tariff rift with Trump's top trade advisor is getting ugly | Elon Musk calls Trump's top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, a 'moron' and 'dumber than a sack of bricks' | Peter Navarro is the architect of Trump’s tariff policy. Elon Musk is not impressed. | As Trump wages trade war, his advisers fight each other — and Musk | Here are all the tariffs Trump announced on 'liberation day'
