Elon Musk has added some fuel to the growing Republican rift over the Trump administration’s tariff policies, calling Peter Navarro, Trump’s top trade adviser, a “moron.” Ouch.
🧱 Navarro vs. Musk: A Battle of Words
During a recent appearance on CNBC, Navarro – one of the key architects behind the White House’s controversial tariff policy – had some choice words for Musk. He claimed that Musk is “not a car manufacturer” but just a “car assembler.” Navarro went on to say that parts of Tesla’s engines come from Japan and China, while other key components, like electronics, come from Taiwan.
Navarro, ever the patriot, stressed that he wants to see American-made products, suggesting that parts like tires should be made in Akron, transmissions in Indianapolis, and engines in Flint and Saginaw.
💥 Musk Fires Back
Musk wasn’t having any of it. In a tweet, he fired back, calling Navarro “truly a moron” and claiming that what Navarro said was “demonstrably false.”
He didn’t stop there. In another post, Musk didn’t hold back, saying, “Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.” Talk about a Twitter showdown!
🏛️ Musk’s Opposition to Tariffs Grows
Musk’s criticism of Navarro is the latest in a series of comments opposing the Trump administration’s tariffs. Musk, who’s known for his outspoken opinions, even pointed out that Navarro’s Harvard PhD in economics didn’t seem to be helping him much. He also reportedly spent the weekend appealing to Trump directly, asking him to reverse the tariffs.
It’s clear Musk isn’t alone in his frustration. Many Republicans and Trump supporters are growing increasingly concerned about the potential economic fallout from the tariffs, especially as global markets have been in freefall.
📉 The Market Reacts
Stock markets worldwide took a massive hit on Monday, with losses seen in Europe, Asia, and the US. While there were some small signs of recovery on Tuesday, economists are warning that the markets will remain volatile in the coming weeks.
In response, a billionaire Trump backer took to social media, urging the president to reconsider the tariffs and give countries three months to renegotiate trade relationships with the US. He warned that failing to do so could lead to a “self-induced, economic nuclear winter.”
💥 GOP Donor Warns of Economic Catastrophe
Meanwhile, another major donor to Trump and the Republican Party expressed deep concern. Speaking to Rolling Stone, they said: “I don’t know if I’d be this worried if Bernie Sanders were president… that’s how bad this is.” They added that there’s very little time to fix the situation and turn things around.
🔥 The Growing Rift
It’s clear that the battle over tariffs is deepening divisions within the Republican Party. Musk, who has long been a supporter of Trump, now finds himself at odds with the administration’s trade policies. As the market trembles and tensions rise, the question remains: will Trump reverse course, or will his tariffs continue to sink the economy?
You may also like: Fed up with Trump? See which US brands you could boycott in protest
