Musk brands Trump aide 'dumber than a sack of bricks' in tariff spat

(FILES) (L-R) Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing, Peter Navarro, White House lawman main of unit for argumentation and US homeland information advisor Stephen Miller, and Elon Musk talk wrong the Oval Office of the White House earlier boarding Marine One with unseen US President Donald Trump successful Washington, DC connected March 14, 2025. Elon Musk connected April 8 described Peter Navarro, a elder White House commercialized advisor, arsenic "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" successful a increasing rift implicit Donald Trump's tariff policy. Musk, a cardinal adjutant to the president, has signaled absorption to the tariffs, and the Tesla CEO deed retired aft Navarro described him arsenic "not a car manufacturer" but "a car assembler.". Photo: ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP/File
Source: AFP

Billionaire Elon Musk blasted President Donald Trump's elder commercialized advisor Peter Navarro arsenic "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" connected Tuesday successful a increasing rift implicit the US tariff argumentation that has rocked the world.

The bonzer nationalist spat came aft Navarro described the Tesla brag and alleged Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) main arsenic "not a car manufacturer" but "a car assembler" who relies connected imported parts.

Musk, the world's richest person, has antecedently signaled his absorption to the president's caller import tariffs that person roiled markets.

"Navarro is genuinely a moron. What helium says present is demonstrably false," Musk posted connected his X societal network, nether a clip of Navarro saying Tesla imported batteries, electronics and tires, and that Musk "wants the inexpensive overseas parts."

Musk doubled down successful a bid of different messages, saying that "Tesla has the astir American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks."

Musk besides dubbed him "Peter Retarrdo" and said Navarro "should inquire the fake adept helium invented, Ron Vara" -- referring to a fictional pundit Navarro quoted successful a bid of books and a argumentation memo, utilizing an anagram of his ain name.

The White House played down the row.

"Boys volition beryllium boys and we volition fto their nationalist sparring continue," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing erstwhile asked if the spat would harm the White House's messaging connected tariffs.

"Look, these are evidently 2 individuals who person precise antithetic views connected commercialized and connected tariffs."

The South African-born tycoon precocious backed the thought of a free-trade portion betwixt North America and Europe -- a privation astatine likelihood with Trump's flagship tariffs.

'Car assembler'

The US president has ruled retired immoderate intermission successful his assertive stance contempt retaliatory enactment from China and signs of disapproval from wrong his usually loyal Republican Party.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during the regular briefing successful the Brady Briefing Room of the White House successful Washington, DC, connected April 8, 2025.. Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP
Source: AFP

But determination person besides been conflicting messages from wrong the White House itself.

A long-time China hawk, Navarro has been 1 of the astir hardline voices connected tariffs, and targeted Musk himself successful an interrogation with CNBC.

"When it comes to tariffs and trade, we each recognize successful the White House, and the American radical understand, that Elon's a car manufacturer. But he's not a car shaper -- he's a car assembler successful galore cases," Navarro said.

"If you spell to his Texas plant... the batteries travel from Japan and from China, the electronics travel from Taiwan."

The enactment came a time aft Navarro insisted successful an opinion portion successful the Financial Times that the tariffs were "not a negotiation" -- lone for Trump to admit aboriginal that helium was successful information unfastened to immoderate negotiations.

The spat is each the much antithetic due to the fact that of the mesh of loyalties involved.

Trump has powerfully defended Musk aft a bid of vandalism attacks and protests against Tesla implicit DOGE's cost-cutting thrust -- adjacent turning the White House into a pop-up showroom for the electrical vehicles successful a amusement of support.

Navarro, however, has proven his loyalty to Trump by serving a four-month jailhouse condemnation for contempt aft refusing to attest to Congress connected the January 6, 2021 onslaught connected the US Capitol by Trump supporters.

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Source: AFP