US Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has denied any clash with fellow Trump administration adviser Elon Musk over tariffs, just days after being called a “moron” by the Tesla founder.
Navarro expressed admiration for Musk, saying “Elon and I are great.” He downplayed the tension, stating “It’s not an issue…I’ve been called worse.”
In his defense, Navarro claimed Musk is not a car manufacturer but rather a car assembler. He argued that Tesla should prioritize manufacturing parts in US cities such as Akron for tires, Indianapolis for transmissions, and Flint for engines.
Musk responded by calling Navarro “a moron” and accusing him of making false claims about Tesla’s American production. However, Musk’s own company has faced backlash over its reliance on Chinese imports, which have tariffs of up to 145%.
The White House has downplayed the tension between Navarro and Musk, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating “boys will be boys” and dismissing the public spat as a matter of personal sparring.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/13/navarro-denies-musk-tariffs-00288361