President Trump’s trade advisor has belittled Elon Musk, describing him as a ‘car salesman’ who is criticizing the new tariffs because they impact his business.
Peter Navarro was dismissive of Musk even as he disputed a ‘rift’ between them – just a day after the world’s richest man targeted him on his social media platform, X.
‘He’s got X. He’s got a big microphone. We don’t mind him saying whatever he wants, but the American people need to understand that we know what this is all about,’ Navarro said dismissively in an interview with Fox News.
‘Elon, when he’s in his DOGE lane, is great. But we understand what is going on here. Elon sells cars.’
The extraordinary swipe comes after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, which have sparked stock market mayhem and global fears of a recession.
Navarro has been a staunch advocate of the tariffs and was said to be in Trump’s ear as he hammered out the details of the new policy.
He’s also a loyal supporter of the MAGA movement and served four months in jail for refusing to cooperate with investigations into the January 6 insurrection.
‘[Musk is] in Texas assembling cars that have big parts of that car from Mexico, China, Japan… the electronics come from Taiwan,’ Navarro pointed out.
The extraordinary swipe comes after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, which have sparked stock market mayhem and global fears of a recession
Navarro (right) has been a staunch advocate of the tariffs and was said to be in Trump’s ear as he hammered out the details of the new policy
‘He’s simply protecting his own interests as any business person would do.’
Despite the dismissive tone and suggestion that Musk’s fury over tariffs stems from selfish reasons, Navarro insisted things are ‘fine’ between he and the billionaire.
‘It’s fine. There is no rift here with Elon,’ he said.
‘We’re more concerned about Detroit building Cadillacs with American engines, and that’s what this is all about.’
Musk told a political rally he hopes to see a ‘zero tariff situation’ between the US and Europe to create a free trade zone.
He then responded to a post on X that noted Navarro has a PhD in economics from Harvard.
‘A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem,’ Musk wrote.
After a user responded to say that Navarro was ‘correct’, Musk remarked: ‘He ain’t built s***.’
The White House announced a baseline 10 percent tariff on all imports , effective April 5, with higher rates for countries imposing steeper duties on US goods
Musk personally lost billions in the market’s reaction to the tariffs and went on to criticize the Trump policy, sparking questions over whether there’s a rift between him and Trump (pictured together)
The White House announced a baseline 10 percent tariff on all imports, effective April 5, with higher rates for countries imposing steeper duties on US goods.
Musk personally lost billions in the market’s reaction to the tariffs.
Wall Street is bracing for a potential repeat of Black Monday as markets in Australia and Asia begin opening with devastating losses, sparking fears last week’s brutal sell-off could look tame by comparison.
Despite President Donald Trump claiming Sunday night that world leaders are ‘dying to make a deal,’ US stock futures as well as major indices in Asia tanked.
In early Monday morning trading in Asia — Sunday night US time – Japan’s Nikkei has dropped more than 8 percent. Australia was down 6 percent and South Korea 5 percent.
Peter Navarro dismissed any discussion of a ‘rift’ between he and the world’s richest man just a day after Musk targeted him on his platform, X
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he didn’t want global markets to fall, but also that he wasn’t concerned about the massive sell-off either, adding, ‘sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.’
‘I spoke to a lot of leaders, European, Asian, from all over the world,’ Trump said.
‘They’re dying to make a deal. And I said, we’re not going to have deficits with your country.
‘We’re not going to do that, because to me a deficit is a loss. We’re going to have surpluses or at worst, going to be breaking even.’
