A fiery exchange has erupted between Elon Musk and one of former President Donald Trump’s top trade advisers after controversial remarks about Tesla’s manufacturing practices sparked backlash online.
The controversy began when Peter Navarro, Trump’s former trade and manufacturing advisor, criticized Musk for sourcing parts for Tesla vehicles from overseas. Speaking during an interview with CNBC, Navarro questioned Tesla’s commitment to American manufacturing, arguing that the company was more of a “car assembler” than a car manufacturer.
“If you look at his Texas plant, many of the key components—like batteries from Japan and China, electronics from Taiwan—are imported,” Navarro said. “We want those parts made in the U.S.—tires from Akron, transmissions from Indianapolis, engines from Michigan. That’s how we strengthen American industry.”
Navarro likened Tesla’s business model to that of European automakers like BMW and Mercedes, who assemble foreign-made components in American plants. “That doesn’t help America,” he said. “It’s bad for our economy and for national security.”
But Elon Musk wasn’t having it.
The billionaire tech mogul took to X (formerly Twitter), the platform he now owns, to respond directly—and sharply—to Navarro’s claims.
“Navarro is truly a moron,” Musk wrote. “What he says here is demonstrably false. Tesla produces the most American-made cars, more than Ford or any other brand. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
Musk’s fiery response immediately ignited debate online, with users weighing in on both sides of the manufacturing and trade policy discussion.
It’s not the first time Navarro has been at the center of controversy. In January 2024, the 75-year-old was sentenced to four months in prison for Contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a subpoena related to the January 6 investigation.
When asked about the feud during a White House press briefing on April 8, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt brushed off the tension between the two men.
“These are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and tariffs,” she said. “Boys will be boys—we’ll let their public sparring continue.”
The clash reflects deeper divisions over American manufacturing, tariffs, and global trade policy. Navarro, a longtime advocate for economic nationalism, has consistently pushed for stricter trade rules and onshoring production to boost domestic industry.
Musk, on the other hand, defends Tesla’s global supply chain as a strategic necessity in a competitive, high-tech industry. While Tesla does manufacture a significant number of parts in the U.S.—especially at its Gigafactories in Texas and Nevada—it also relies on overseas suppliers for specialized components.
Navarro’s comments come as discussions heat up around Trump’s proposed tariff policy, which would significantly raise taxes on foreign imports and push companies to produce more domestically.
Still, Musk insists Tesla remains a leading example of American innovation and production.
“We’re building more in the U.S. than almost anyone else,” Musk stated. “Navarro clearly has no idea what he’s talking about.”
Whether this latest war of words between a tech titan and a political advisor will have any real policy impact remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure—Elon Musk isn’t backing down from a fight.