Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk launched a scathing rebuke of former Trump administration trade adviser Peter Navarro, referring to him as a “moron” in a social media post criticizing Navarro’s role in shaping the nation’s controversial tariff strategy.
Musk’s comments came amid renewed public debate over the economic impact of tariffs reintroduced or expanded under President Donald Trump’s administration. Navarro, who served as one of Trump’s key architects on trade and manufacturing policy during his first term, has remained a vocal proponent of protectionist trade measures—policies Musk now blames for disrupting supply chains and stifling innovation.
The billionaire entrepreneur accused Navarro of failing to grasp the realities of global production and said his policies had made it harder for U.S. companies to compete in technology-driven industries. Musk argued that American firms operating on the global stage rely on efficient access to international materials and markets—something he believes tariffs jeopardize.
While Musk has often praised certain elements of Trump-era deregulation and energy policy, he has also become increasingly outspoken against what he sees as economic isolationism. His latest remarks add to growing tension between major business leaders and policymakers over the long-term consequences of trade restrictions.
Navarro has not responded directly to Musk’s remarks, though he has defended his policies in recent public appearances, asserting that tariffs helped revive American manufacturing and correct longstanding trade imbalances with countries like China.
Musk’s comments have ignited a new wave of public discourse, with business advocates, economists, and political commentators weighing in on whether protectionist strategies remain viable in a rapidly evolving global economy. As both sides dig in, the clash underscores the continuing divide between government trade hawks and the tech sector’s globalist outlook.