Elon Musk slammed President Trump’s top trade adviser on Tuesday as “more stupid than a brick bag.”
Musk said on Monday that he was a “car assembler” rather than a “automobile maker,” and directed trade adviser Peter Navarro to criticize him as his electric vehicle company Tesla relied on parts from around the world.
Musk fought back, defending his company and calling Navarro a “stupid.” He said Navarro should refer to “Ron Bala, the fake expert he invented.” Musk is estimated to have lost around $31 billion since Trump’s tariff announcement. Bloomberg Billionaire Index.
The feud between two of Trump’s top advisors has been rolling out on social media for several days as the administration’s new tariffs caused huge losses in global financial markets. Musk’s latest attack on Navarro among White House staffers produced more laughs than concern, according to several officials who requested anonymity to discuss personal conversations.
So far, Trump has not placed much emphasis on spats among his top aides. Navarro was a high-ranking trade official during Trump’s first term and later loyal to the president, spending four months in prison after being convicted of Congressional Empty for refusing to testify in an investigation into the attack on Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Musk’s criticism is remarkable for how rarely he breaks with Trump, as he is wrapped up in the president’s inner circle. Musk often travels to Florida over the weekend, but he was not part of the president’s aide last weekend.
Musk has been criticizing Navarro for the past few days and has publicly aired his differences over Trump’s tariffs. He punished Mr. Navarro for having a PhD. In Harvard Economics, he wrote, “Not bad, not good,” and then Navarro used his exp to post that he “hasn’t built anything.” (He later deleted the second post.)
Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and top advisor to the president, has rejected Trump’s approach by calling for a “zero tariff” between the US and Europe.
On Monday, Navarro, a strong trade hawk, said he had not yet spoke with Musk on CNBC and had disregarded the tension.
“Everything is good for Elon,” Navarro said. On Sunday, he downplayed tensions by suggesting that Musk was protecting his interests like any business executive.
Musk often uses his X account to fire critics, humiliate them, and incite nearly 219 million followers to participate. Since getting Twitter and renamed X, Musk has often targeted judges trying to explain him or his company. And in recent months, Musk has surged at judges who delayed or stopped federal government cost-cutting efforts with government efficiency.
Kate Conger and Maggie Harberman Reports of contributions.
