Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc., has escalated his public feud with Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser to President Donald Trump. Musk recently called Navarro “truly a moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” on social media.
The Details
The rift between Musk and Navarro first emerged over the weekend when Musk replied to a posted video of Navarro defending the administration’s tariff calculations. Musk suggested that Navarro’s Harvard economics PhD was a disadvantage.
The Feud Escalates
On Tuesday morning, Musk responded to another video clip in which Navarro said that Tesla assembles EVs in Texas using mostly foreign-made parts. Musk wrote:
Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false.
Musk also stated that Tesla has the most American-made cars, and Navarro is “dumber than a sack of bricks.” He linked to a Kelley Blue Book article, which showed that Tesla produces the top four most American-made cars based on assembly location, parts content, engine origin, transmission origin, and U.S. manufacturing workforce.
Tesla’s American-Made Cars
According to the Kelley Blue Book article, Tesla’s top four most American-made cars are:
- Model S: Assembled in Fremont, California, with a high percentage of US content
- Model 3: Assembled in Fremont, California, with a high percentage of US content
- Model X: Assembled in Fremont, California, with a high percentage of US content
- Model Y: Assembled in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas, with a high percentage of US content
Musk’s Definition of American-Made
Musk posted another reply saying, “By any definition whatsoever, Tesla is the most vertically integrated auto manufacturer in America with the highest percentage of US content.”
Broader Tensions
The feud reflects broader tensions over Trump’s trade policies, which Musk has recently criticized. Musk has expressed support for more free trade, contrasting with Navarro’s advocacy for stricter tariffs. The public disagreement highlights divisions within Trump’s circle of allies and advisers.
Tesla’s Stock Performance
Tesla shares have fallen nearly 40% in 2025. The stock has been downgraded by several firms, which have cited “brand damage” due to Musk’s political involvement in the Trump administration. However, according to recent market data, Tesla shares are up 4.76% at $244.39 amid a broad market rally as Wall Street hopes for tariff negotiations.