By Gloria Nosa
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has strongly rebuked former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, calling him “truly a moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” in response to recent comments questioning Tesla’s manufacturing credentials.
The exchange adds to ongoing tensions surrounding former President Donald Trump’s trade policies—particularly his tariff-heavy approach, which Musk has frequently criticized, despite once enjoying relatively close ties with the administration.
Navarro had recently dismissed Tesla’s role as a U.S. manufacturer, claiming the electric vehicle company is “not a car manufacturer” but merely “a car assembler.” He argued that Tesla is overly reliant on imported components like batteries, electronics, and tires, accusing Musk of backing the use of “cheap foreign parts.”
Musk fired back on X (formerly Twitter), replying under a clip of Navarro’s remarks:
“Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
Musk’s comments highlight his ongoing advocacy for broader free trade between North America and Europe—an approach that stands in stark contrast to Trump’s protectionist economic agenda.
While the electric vehicle industry continues to face geopolitical pressures, including growing tension with China and criticism from parts of the Republican Party, Trump has maintained a hardline stance on tariffs, refusing to consider any rollbacks.
