Key Takeaways:

• Elon Musk publicly criticized Peter Navarro, calling him a "moron" regarding tariffs on foreign imports.
• Navarro dismissed Musk's claims, labeling him as a "car assembler" rather than a true manufacturer due to Tesla's reliance on foreign parts.
• The ongoing feud highlights differing perspectives on U.S. trade policies, especially in light of Trump's new tariffs.

In a recent escalation of tensions over U.S. trade policy, Elon Musk has publicly attacked Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump's trade adviser, branding him as "truly a moron" after Navarro suggested that Musk's position on tariffs stemmed from being a "car assembler" rather than a true manufacturer. This exchange follows Navarro's comments made on Forbes, where he emphasized that many components of Tesla vehicles are sourced from countries like China and Japan.

Musk's rebuttal came in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), where he highlighted that Tesla produces the highest percentage of American-made cars in the market, citing data from Cars.com’s American-Made Index. Musk stated, "Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks," and continued to defend his company's manufacturing practices, declaring, "By any definition whatsoever, Tesla is the most vertically integrated auto manufacturer in America."

The disagreement arose shortly after President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on over 180 countries, which Musk indicated could adversely affect both foreign trade and stock market stability. Following Trump's announcement, Tesla’s stock has seen a notable decline, contributing to a broader market sell-off.

This feud over tariffs and manufacturing issues has drawn attention to the implications of Trump's policies on American industries, causing controversy not only within business circles but also in the political arena. Navarro, in his defense, insinuated that Musk's comments were inherently self-serving as he aims to protect his business interests against government regulations, stating, "Elon sells cars, and he’s simply protecting his own interests as any businessperson would do."

The exchange also included Musk's critique of Navarro's academic credentials, claiming that having a Ph.D. from Harvard is a "bad thing," which has resonated in various media discussions about the qualifications driving U.S. trade policy. As this situation evolves, it raises questions about the future of U.S. trade relations and the balance between domestic manufacturing and global supply chains.

For more details, visit the full articles on Forbes, The Hill, and India Times.